Reviews (7)

This book will ignite your heart!
Dorrell's words come at a time when so many artists hunger for this type of direction and guidance. Never has an artist been so open and engaging with the reader with regards to the technical and personal requirements needed for today's artistic development. Paul Dorrell, fully qualified in his life long experiences, bears his soul and in doing so offers himself as a lantern for all aspiring artists. This book is a must read where artist professional practices are discussed, and for all artists and non-artists interested in an honestly reflective story about the validation for life.

Strangely compelling
I surprised myself by readng Dorrell's book in almost one sitting. It was compelling largely due to the fact that he shared details of his own life which makes him seem approachable and the information he shares more accessible. Books of this nature can be ponderous but his is not. I not only learned tons but feel I have spent a day with a friend who dares to be real. I am a developing artist and now feel it is at least possible to find some level of success from reading this book. Also, his thoughts on the sometimes snobby ways of those involved in "art" were refreshing. He seems one cool dude and this was one cool read.

Finally a down to earth book offering guidelines to artists!
I enjoyed the book very much, especially learning what steps need to be taken in presenting your work to a gallery. As an artist, that is one of the hardest things for me to master. Paul's advice and storys about his journey as a writer and gallery owner were inspiring. I am happy to have found a book that is enjoyable to read, but also gives you good advice in dealing with the "artworld" at the same time!

an inspiring resource for artists, an inspirational read
What a great read, couldn't put it down. I am a working artist and designer of Landscapes and historic gardens. I work in the creative field. What a great resource and inspirational read this book is!!!! Couldn't put it down. This man really understands the art wold and the problems we deal with every day. This is such an enjoyable book, highly recomended!!!!
Spiritual, fun, and perceptive, a thouroughly enjoyable book.
Rob at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/THEARTISTSGARDEN.

Practical Advice for ALL Artists
Paul Dorrell has taken anecdotal evidence and true-to-life experience to deliver a book that is both refreshing and reassuring. For those of us pursuing the artist's life, it came as a comfort to read of his trials and tribulations, not only as a gallery owner, but also as an writer. His candor and humor only add to a great read! I read it in one sitting.

I am a composer and writer and I found this book incredibly helpful. I reccomend it to all artists: painters, musicians, sculptors, writers, et al. Especially if you deal with consumers of art (i.e. "snobs"), Mr. Dorrell's advice is priceless!

If you create, you need this book! ... Read more

Reviews (33)

THE definitive work on quality figure drawing!
As a practicing artist I have to say that this is the finest book of its kind I've come across. If you are serious about taking a traditional approach to figure drawing and want to produce artwork of the finest quality, this is the book to look at. If you just want to learn to do quick sketches then you might look elsewhere, since the approach discussed is time-consuming and painstaking. But it is THE way to go if you are serious about fine art. If I was only allowed to have one book on my shelf this would be it.

Beginners to expect some learning curve. Great book though!
I just finished reading this book at one sitting of several hours straight. It is a great book, and without any hesitation, I'd like to give it a FIVE-STAR. The following are my opinions to readers who have not read the book. These opinions are NOT based on beautiful works presented in the book, although they are also a strength of this book.

1) I enjoy a lot the method presented by Mr. Ryder. Incidentally, it is also my approach in life figure drawing. To me, this approach is very NATURAL and INTUITIVE, and largely based on the artist's OBSERVATIONS of the objects. This may be the key to the approach, as the author emphasized not on "how to draw", but more on "WHAT TO DRAW".

2) Figure-drawing beginners, who expect to learn from the book how to use simplified 3D shapes, such as an egg (for the head) or deformed cylinders (for torsos, limbs, etc...), will NOT see those techniques in this book. Instead, they may find it NOT TOO EASY to learn the "block-in", "contour", and "drawing the inside" presented in the book. A learning curve is expected, but in the end, it will pay off when this approach has been mastered. Readers who follow this approach would be able to draw "what they see" in a very natural manner (like a pro artist!)

3) I enjoy most the chapter about shading. In my humble opinion, however, it will be the most challenging task for beginners to distiguish and render different shading shapes and tones.

4) Keen observations seem to come naturally in the so-called "borned artists". For the rest, it takes practice. This is a good guideline for any of us artists (borned or not) who would like to sharpen our observational skills in drawing such complex (yet intriguing) objects as human figures.

Not for beginners but my best book so far!
I have studied numerous drawing books and by far this book I have owned. I often reread and reference it to inspire me, and i can honestly say my work has improved immensely.

I had been a portait artist for about a year and the face is not a problem to me but the figure was a time-cosuming challenge, that is until I was opened to Anthony Ryder's technique of envelopes, blocking-in and contours. It made drawing the figure so much easier, well proportioned and realistic. Using cylinder and blocks just doesn't do it for me.

The rendering is awesome and it already has an impact on my art.
This is not to say I simply copy his style but rather to combine his with mine to produce even more amazing results.

Lastly this is NOT your beginner basic learn-how-to-draw book. You should have sound drawing ability inorder to tackle this book. So don't complain if it doesn't instruct you step-by-step on drawing the hand or head 5 eye-widths apart(a pretty bad method anyhow). You'll learn to draw the figure as a whole and not as broken down indivual figure elements.

Hack art instruction at a rip-off price
"The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing: A Contemporary Perspective on the Classical Tradition" by Anthony Ryder 1999,
List price $24.95 ISBN 0823003035

Ryder employs a teaching method which one reviewer has termed, INVISIBLE PROBLEM SOLVING, where the book is illustrated with finished illustrations, without showing the student any of the intermediate steps it took to arrive at the final work. It is becoming a common flaw in the rush to publish some of these How-To-Draw books. Displaying finished works does not impart knowledge to a pupil.

The title term "contemporary perspectives" turns out be be little more than gimmick language for watered-down anatomical instruction.

Perhaps we should be more demanding when the title includes words like: "COMPLETE GUIDE TO..." because the book must actually BE a "complete guide" and this book is not. The art work is flat, torpid, and uninspiring, lacking in dynamism and vitality. The models are listles and possess no dynamism, no life.

It is not a book for beginners, because it doesn't begin with what Jack Hamm refers to as "simplified figurettes", and is termed elswhere as "human puppets" etc. The title claims the book is for "Artists" but anyone who is already qualified as an actual "artist" will already have covered the material in a first year of drawing instruction.

The methodology of Invisible Problem Solving is the crux of the issue however, showing that the author is out of touch with his audience. For the weighty list price of $24.95, buyers should demand better.

It does a body good ;-)
As other reviewers have said, this is a good to excellent book for those with some experience in drawing. The works presented, the methods, and the explanations are fine. There is a wealth of information in this book. However, I give this book a 4 stars because:

1. It would have been more helpful to have examples of the Envelope and Block-in techniques leading to the Contour WITHOUT overlays. In other words, to see the building blocks/steps as they would actually appear on paper while one is doing a drawing.

2. The drawings reveal outstanding technique and fidelity to the models--notwithstanding that even Ryder makes some errors in some of his drawings. However, although this is figure drawing rather than traditional life drawing (involving different levels of time and detail), I feel that the realism and technical skill draw too much attention to themselves. One goes "wow" at just about every work but there is a major aesthetic element missing--call it, expressiveness, soul, whatever.

Still this book is a MUST READ. ... Read more

Book Description

This book describes a new technique, developed by the author, which makes it possible to adhere collage elements without liquid adhesives. This technique eliminates wrinkling and drying time from collage-making, offering new opportunities for creative spontaniety.Also included is information on "paperless" transfer of printed and photocopied images, alternatives to adhesives, archival concerns, framing and presentation of finished works, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A New Approach is A Fresh Approach
Painter, printer and collage artist Jonathan Talbot's book, Collage A New Approach, is a fresh approach to introducing anyone to the art of collage.
Living up to his quote in the book, 'Technique is but a small part of collage making', the author takes his readers hand and then fills it with inspiration, information, the love and joy of creating works of art and the courage to share that work with others.
After reading Talbots book, I read it again. Then I began following his easy step by step instructions on a variety of techniques and was thrilled with the results.
If one, (like myself) is an artist or considering taking up art for the first time, Talbots book is must tool for all. The author gives answers to questions a reader may not even have thought to ask.
Talbot has removed the word, 'fear' from creating and displaying ones work by giving the reader his years of experience and insight into the art world.
The author has included an introduction to the history of collage and collage artists, a list of materials, books by other collage artists and websites to artists creating collages today.
Talbot doesn't just give a list of tools, he actually took the time to explain what they do and how to use them correctly.
If success is measured by the quality and generosity of knowledge an artist shares with others, then Jonathan Talbots book, Collage A New Approach will certainly prove successful and an asset to those who read it.

Invaluable Little Book for Collage Artists
The subtitle of this attractive, concise little book is "Collage Without Liquid Adhesives." The techniques explained in the book were a real eye-opener for me (I'm a collage artist myself). Most traditional collages are made using liquid adhesives, which means you have to be really careful when you position each item in your collage. Once you've glued each element down, you're "stuck" with that arrangement. However, Talbot has devised new techniques that are extremely liberating and foster your creativity. Photos and diagrams throughout make every step crystal-clear. A number of exciting new techniques are explained (including a great image transfer method), and there are excellent sections discussing various adhesives, varnishes, and other supplies. Mounting collages and archival concerns are also covered. One of my favorite parts of the book is the Appendix, which gives contact information for sources for all the materials and supplies you need to make collages, as well as a great list of books about collage and collage artists. The Appendix alone is well worth the price. I recommend this book to every artist I meet, whether beginner or professional.

Very informative and well-written
This book has more solid information than most of the collage books out there. I appreciate the detailed references to products and the step-by-step instructions. Most collage books fill space with projects that are often not things I would ever make, although the techniques used are of interest. I prefer this book for I don't have to read through projects to glean ideas (although that has its place too).

The image transfer is SO easy! I bought the paper he recommends but use a clothes iron and the backing paper that contact paper/stickers come on instead of the tacking iron and release paper. I love the freedom to choose my own images to transfer and being able to use them without destroying the originals.

I highly recommend this book-- just remember that you can do this process with a home iron, sticker backing paper, magazines and any brand of gloss gel medium. You don't have to go out and buy everything he recommends and you can get all of your images from magazines although I highly recommend the special paper for greater image choice.

not what I expected at all
I was hoping for samples of his work and ideas on how he creates his artwork. Instead it was a dry lecture on his philosophy of collage and how he approaches his artwork. Helpful perhaps to advanced collage artists who already have technique and style and are looking for a new slant, but totally useless to me!

Terrific Technique
Jonathan Talbot's book is small but it is packed with "user" friendly information on the creation of collage. His work is excellent and his instructions easy to understand. Reading the book inspired me to take his workshop. I'll carry what I learned from both into my own collage tapestry, weaving my imagination around his techniques. ... Read more

Book Description

From the best artists working in the world today comes an instructive and inspirational new series-How Did You Paint That? Covering a spectrum of popular topics, this series provides beginning and advanced artist of all mediums with detailed examples of the myriad ways in which to portray the featured subject.

Each title includes 100 different interpretations of the topic, and each interpretation is accompanied by valuable firsthand feedback from the artist, including the colors and brushes used, along with the artist's methodology, challenges, and motivation. Readers will also find suggestions and exercises from the painters, allowing them to apply the lessons of masters to their own masterpieces. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Disappointingly scant content
I know I'm going to anger some of the folks who really believe in this book, but I was really disappointed with how slim and scant the educational content was. There are very many black and white illustrations of the students' work related to Itten's teachings. And his outlook is very pure and creative. I really enjoyed that aspect of this book, but expected more meat! I wanted to know more specifically about conflict. I wanted him to go deeper. As it is, he brings up a well ordered set of concepts, explains them clearly and then moves on. In my opinion this book is wildly overpriced. I probably would give it four stars had it only cost me between seven and fifteen dollars. At thirty and change it's not worth it.

lighting the creative spark in everyone
This book is not a step by step syllabus to follow blindly. Itten wrote this book to share the fundamental principles that he taught all his students (no matter how advanced) before allowing them to pursue higher classes and goals at his school.

The book is broken down into sections that (to anyone who's had art training) seem simple enough: chiaroscuro, form, color, rhythm, etc. but Itten teaches not so much the technical aspect of art as a new way of seeing the world, a way of creating from the whole body and mind, not just with a paintbrush (or computer graphics program).

The sections are all punctuated with many examples of student work that relate to the topic covered. Often, it is these examples that really drive his points home.

Just as Itten believed that everyone was capable of being creative and thought the basic course was valuable to all levels of art students and even teachers, this book is applicable for both those who are looking for an introduction into creating, and those who consider themselves expert artists already. I guarantee there will be at least one idea in the book to make you stop and ponder and suddenly challenge your way of thinking on the matter.

Itten is a god, bow down.
Itten made the world as we know it today. Without his guidence, none of the products you buy, art you look at, or anything else would be what it is today. If you are a designer or art monger, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It is a discription of his Basic Course (everyone had to take it...) at the Bauhaus in Weimar written by Itten himself. ... Read more

Book Description

Watercolor School offers clear, visual explanations and easy exercises that build up skill and confidence. Eight specially devised demonstrations show how to deal with the most popular subjects from beginning to end. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Best Book For The Beginner
Being a beginning watercolorist I knew I needed some help, so I searched all over for a good book on the subject but was unsuccessful. Then I found this book and I'll have to say it is excellent. It covers many of the techenics that new watercolorist need to know like how to stretch paper, the use of masking fluid, how to set up a still life, and how the watercolors work. I recommend this book to everbody that's interested in becoming the serious watercolorist.

A useful guide on watercolour techniques
As a novice watercolour painter and devoted bibliophile, I have found a new way of spending my hard-earned money: Watercolour books. However, this one might be one of the last I buy, as it's really useful. bought the book yesterday and I am delighted with it. The advice on how to do things is sound, and this is a book that encourages you to find your own style and shows you how the same image may be rendered in such a different way by different people. Unlike other books I own, this one is not only a set of beautiful pictures. In fact, I didn't like some of the art displayed in it, but this is in fact a plus, as it shows the variety of styles and effects you can achieve with watercolour. I know that there are other techniques not displayed in this book, but as a beginning step it's definitely worth every penny. It's got a lot of demos (which are implicitly exercises) and it might end up being a classic on the subject.

Watercolor School by Hazel Harrison is an excellent resource
This book is an exceptional resource for the watercolorist. I highly recommend this book for both beginner and advanced artists. Terms are explained in plain English. Many watercolor techniques are reviewed and numerous artist's works are described in detail. Hazel Harrison has also written Acrylic School and Pastel School for Readers Digest, and they are all excellent reference sources. I recommend them to all my students.

Very useful for the beginning watercolor artist.
This book has good basics for the beginning watercolor painter. It discusses selection of brushes, paper, color mixing and other beginning basics. It covers landscape, still life, figures, and portraits. A plus to me was the fact that this book has no nude art. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the art of watercolor. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Invaluable resource for all artists.
This book demystifies the way the art world works. It provides all the tools and info needed to build a career exhibiting and selling art. Great practical advice served up with humor and encouragement.

Inspiration!
After being in a creative slump for about a year this is the book that inspired me to pick up my brushes again! I had these horrible thoughts of how difficult it would be to even attempt to make it as an artist but "Taking the Leap" eased my mind. It takes you step by step through everything you need to know and what you need to have ready to start your career. I learned how to properly photograph my art (I can't afford a photographer!) and how to set up my portfolio. There are also inspiring quotes from artists or pertaining to art to help get you through. I credit this book for getting me back out there!

Good sense, good business
Thanks to Cay Lang, I am now selling my artwork in the triple digits. As she states in the beginning of her book,
artists would rather be making art than doing business.
This book helps you do both without sapping your creative juices. A new perspective, a simple remedy.

Cay Lang, thank you for this program ... and the book!
This is a fantastic book that outlines what you need to do to set up and follow through as a visual artist. Every chapter is like a checklist. You can always use it as reference material later, but the book is great whether you read it for the 1st time or 51st time. Bravo, Cay Lang!

In the beginning
Building a career as a visual artist can be a long tedious journey. This book gave encouragement and good advise. There are plenty of example forms for introducing, consigning, and selling art. The majority of the book focusses on a gallery setting and is a bit outdated for information on internet possibilities. I found the most helpful sections to be those dealing with what questions an artist should be asking and the appendix. ... Read more

Book Description

By offering practical ideas for revealing the meaning and relevance of art to humanity, this text helps art students become effective art teachers. Unlike most art pedagogy texts, Art for Life offers a holistic approach to the art curriculum, through classroom illustrations and comprehensive art content, engaging to art students today. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Good Book - Not for beginners
First off, this is a good book - but if you're painting for the
1st time, try some other subjects first. I don't recommend this
for the beginners.
Don't expect to paint like DaVinci your 1st week.
Even if a seasoned veteran understand this takes practice.

I would have liked to seem more techniques on how he painted.
The materials used area was very good and quite interesting.
If you're a seasoned painter, who wants to paint like they
did in the days of old, I highly recommend this book.

Trying these techniques gave me even a larger respect for "the old masters". I always loved their art, because it takes you
back to a time where really good art required really good talent & skill.

Practice & maybe we'll see your "Mona Lisa". Good luck!

Don't kid yourself. This is a GREAT book!
I first saw this book at my local bookstore a few years ago. The paintings presented in this book consolidated my love of classic fine arts (AKA the Old Masters' works). At the time, I did not have enough facilities to pursue oil painting, I simply admired beautiful works by Mr. Sheppard and put the book back to the shelf. Briefly, my conclusion of his work at the time was "unreachable".

I recently bought a copy of this book for myself and in fact have painted, as a practice, some paintings, using the techniques of Titian (both portraiture and nude) described in the book. I fall in love with the techniques of this Old Master simply because the choice of colors and every steps were done in oil (personally, I don't like to use charcoal or other materials in underpainting; they tend to smear and cause a mess). The following are my humble opinions about this book, based on my own experience using it:

1) Don't kid yourself, this is a profound book. Objectively speaking, with only 143+ pages, the author covers the following topics: - Materials and Formulas - Techniques of Durer, Titian, Veronese, Caravaggio, Rubens, Hals, Rembrandt, and Vermeer

Due to space limit, expect some details that may need more in-depth discussions. However, the book does include a reference citation for further reading.

2) This book does not make you a "Master", but it helps to "try out" these techniques. In my humble opinion, to fully benefit this book, the reader should have the following skills before trying the techniques described in the book:

- Good craftmanship. Don't expect to create a masterpiece without a decent drawing skill to start with. Be honest with yourself, if you think you have a problem looking at an object (either live or from a photo) and render it on a canvas, you are not ready for this book yet.

- A reasonably decent ability in recognition of shade, light, and halftone; and a considerable knowledge of color mixing in oil. If you have never mixed oil colors, the book does provide, to some extent, what colors to use. However, in reality, variations occurred, due to different brands of colors or medium used. In any event, you might be able to get by.

3) Practice makes perfect. Do a few paintings using the techniques of your choice. You will eventually find out that no matter how strictly do you follow the techniques described in the book, YOUR WAY of painting will end up different. This is exactly what makes every artist unique. As long as your final work is good, it is a masterpiece of its own right. Who cares whether you tried to be a Titian or Rembrandt and failed. After all, that is even not a good idea, in my opinion.

In closing, I am happy to have purchased this book and tried out some paintings for myself. It surely is a great reference every time I plan to do a portraiture in the Old Master's way (but then again, when the painting is done, it becomes "my" way).

In a few words, "Strongly recommended".

For the Expreienced
Oil painting has many levels of difficulty, This book provides information for the highest level. For the experienced painter: a great lesson; for the inexperienced, it is, in my oppinion, too advanced. Overall a great book; well worth the money.

A treat
This book is a fabulous repertoire of demos of how the masters used to paint. It covers the techniques of Durer, Rubens, Rembrandt, Hals, Carvaggio, Titian, Vermeer in clear detailed step by step demos of one or two paintings covering each of the old masters. It shows concisely how the same effects can be achieved including painting techniques, supports, mediums and paints which are individualized for each of the old masters. The information and recipes with respect to supports and grounds, mediums and paint are mainly the same recipes followed by the old masters but a few recipes are based on modern ingredients which would give the same effects. The artistic skill of the painter is obvious and startling and the book is richly illustrated. This book is not for beginners nor an exhaustive discourse on the painting techniques of all old masters, but it is superb in its context and a great visual treat.

Great book but not for begginers!
This book is well written and easy to read. The techniques are not described as in-depth as I though they would be. But they are summerized concisely. The demonstrations are good if you have any notion of brushstroke, light etc. I would recommend this book. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

If it were only as easy as reading a book!
Exquisite paintings of wildlife make this book worthwhile in itself, but Kalon Baughan also supplies fascinating insights into how he paints. Though most of us can only dream of painting animals that capture the animal's soul, there are many useful hints and techniques that even rank amateurs can use.

Simply the best
How to review this book is a problem. It is simply the best book on the subject that I have ever seen. It goes through the usual informative sections on animal anatomy and several step-by-step demonstrations and details. It is here where this book stands out, in the detail of the demonstrations. From detail information on the underpainting technique to detailing, drybrushing and using washes it covers everything in an easy to understand manner. If you want to paint wildlife and have not had an expensive course in a high quality art school then this is the book that you want to buy.

Painting the Faces of Wildlife Step-by-Step
I was at the Texas Woodcarver's Guild Spring Roundup in Fredericsburg, TX, recently and saw a copy of this book. As a woodcarver I would rate this book as excellent. The book has excellent detailed pictures of faces of various animals. As a carver, I must pay attention to exact details such as hair color and texture, eye size and color, ears details, and all facets of wildlife characteristics. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn wildlife details for painting, carving, or general knowledge.

A well done Wildlife Art book
This is a great book. It is well thought out and well done. I am not an artist but I enjoy wildlife art and have many different pieces of artwork. Knowing some of the history and research behind the paintings adds to the enjoyment and appreciation of the artist's work. I recommend this book to anyone who loves wildlife art and art in general.

"stepping into nature with Kalon Baughan"
Kalon's book is full of drama, which is quite a feat for a "HOW TO" book. His passion for what he does shines through in his text as well as in the expressiveness of his awesome paintings. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great art teaching aid
This book was easy to follow and interesting. It would be a little too much for a child to understand on their own, but with limited assistance it is an excellent guide for beginners who want to draw. My grandson was thrilled with it!

DO NOT BUY
This book is terrible. If you are looking for a book to teach you how to draw better more realistic and dynamic drawings then definitely do not buy this. Half of the book is on gesture drawing (the annoying five-minute drawings which are usually printed on your homework paper). The other half is full of other people talking about their lives in art. This book is more for people who don't know how they want to draw and is to help you explore very boring sides of art. If you are interested in drawing more active drawings ( possibly comic, realistic, lively, anime/manga, or anything interesting) then look for books by Burne Hogarth. He has done some great books on the human anatomy, hands, head, facial exxpressions, etc. Unless you really want to draw potted plants and scribbling exercises, DONT BUY THIS BOOK.

This Book Really Deserves To Be Better Known
If I had to pick only 5 books from my art instruction shelf to keep and had to sell all the rest this would head the list as Keeper Book 1. Many people are familiar with Betty Edward's Drawing on the Right-Side of the Brain and I agree it is a good book. But Mona Brooke's book is every bit as good and I really feel it is unknown and under-appreciated compared to Ms. Edwards book - especially considering the excellent instruction and lessons each chapter gives. These 2 books are excellent complements to each other. And don't let the title throw you. This book is worthy of every adult wanna-be-artist's bookshelf. There are just as many examples of adult beginner artwork as there are examples from children and teenagers. Like the Betty Edwards book it teaches beginners progressively how to see and draw things and people. But this book puts a much larger focus on creativity - take what you learn and unleash it creatively as well as realistically (or even un-realistically if that's what you prefer as the author says).

Everything is here - proportion, perspective, contrast, shading, scale, etc. and the tons of "projects" help reinforce the lessons. But a big chunk of the book give projects stressing creativity as well. That is what I love about this book so much. Not only do these people go from childlike drawings and progress to increasingly amazing results -they throw in big doses of creative inspiration as well. So, for example, some of the students (after learning and proving to themselves they can finally draw realistic portraits) forsake strict realism for more creative interpretive portraits. In short, the author never loses sight of the fact that drawing, any artistic endeavor in fact, should be fun. All kinds of materials are suggested for the various projects. And the student artwork in this book is very inspiring. Everything from strict realism to whimsical to experimental is shown. Once you learn how to draw realistically you can then break those rules if it suits your creativity better. This book is just plain FUN. FUN! FUN! FUN! Get it along with the Betty Edwards book. They really make a great art-instruction duo.

Drawing for Older Children and Teens
It's a excellent book that assists the art educator in understanding how to excel their students further. I use the pictures and exercises in the books to show the students how children (their age or younger) have improved in their drawings by using some of their methods. This gives them the hope and confidence that they can reach a level that they can only imagine. It's a must have book for any art educator.

The place start!
This is a wonderful book for the beginner. I was not only a beginner, but I was a beginner who didn't believe that I had any artistic talent whatsoever. TalentSchmalent! I finished this book and realized I could draw and am now part-way through a more intesive drawing study book she recommends. I could never have gotten anywhere if I hadn't started with Mona Brookes' book. Many thanks to the author! ... Read more

Reviews (38)

secrets of figure drawing from imagination revealed
This is a must buy book for artists,animators comic book artists,or enthusiasts of figure drawing,who have dreamed of drawing foreshortened human figuresand human figures in action from memory/imagination. This book doesnt contain realistic anatomy,the author uses his own verson of human anatomy toexplain his methods andprinciples,these have to be taken as tools only and not rules. But after you have practised from this book hard enough you will find that your life drawing speed and skill is miles further than when you started,i also recommend the other books by burne hogarth ,dynamic anatomy,drawing dynamic hands, dynamic heads,dynamic light and shade and dynamic wrinkles and drapery.Only one word of caution its very easy to get influenced by burne hogarths work,and your work might start looking like a clone of his.So the key is get inspired not influenced ,keep your own style and use this book to add to that.

Not an anatomy book for everyone
Subtlety is certainly not the strong point of this book. If you want realistic figures, look elsewhere like the Barcsay anatomy book. DYNAMIC FIGURE DRAWING doesn't explore the nuances of quiet poses or the beauty in overweight, underweight, or aged figures.

But if you aspire to draw or paint powerful, idealistic, and expressionistic figures, combine the lessons of this book with drawing from athletic models. If you're into Michelangelo with his use of larger-than-life figures that use exaggerated poses and anatomy to convey strong emotion, you'll like this book.

After practicing the lessons inside the book, you'll be able to spot and draw them better when you draw from a model. Your powerful figures will have more authority to them. And with enough figure drawing under your belt, plus what you've learned from this book, you'll be able to draw figures out of your head in any position you want them in.

The Disney animated feature "Tarzan" was obviously inspired by Burne Hogarth's version of the comic strip "Tarzan." The animators learned many lessons from Hogarth, including foreshortening and dynamic poses and anatomy. I'll bet this book was an important reference to whoever worked on that film.

Great great stuff, but definately NOT a medical anatomy book
This book , though I have only seen it for one night has shown e thigs I never would have thought of about drawing comic book-esq figures. Its definately a great book for people who aspire to professionally pencil comic books, like myself. But it is not medically accurate, so in that case, not meant for realist drawing.

I see that a few of the reviewers have been rather harsh with this book. Well in that affair, let me say that they are cases of people not looking at this book as a comic book referrence, but rather a realistic, fine arts way. So if that is what you are looking for, I do not suggest this book.

As to the explanations in the book, they are a bit tough to understand, but if you study carefully the illustrations, then the instructionsbecome much clearer.

Also, as a side note, as its been stated this is NOT a good book for beginners in the comic book field. In that regard, I suggest "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way," by Stan Lee, and John Buscema.

To sum it up, this book is for the small group of people who are not beginners to comics, but still need to refer or learn about the comic book style male body.

Gotta watch that foreshortening!
Superior to almost any human anatomy art book you care to name. Hogarth shows us that there are no shortcuts to any place worth going --the nuances of human musculature, skeletal structure, and basic laws of movement MUST be studied before anything approaching saleable results appear on paper. That said, this book is an immensely rewarding journey --it helped tremendously in getting my illustrative career off the ground and there frankly isn't enough praise I can heap upon Mr. Hogarth without sounding ridiculous. Forget "tips and tricks" from comic book artists --this book will propel your work to an entirely new level of kinetic realism. FOR SERIOUS ILLUSTRATORS ONLY.

Yech!
Since when does Dynamic = Preposterous, Awkward and Just Plain Silly? I would not recommend this to anyone who is serious about improving their drawing abilities...Maybe to the animators of Dragonball Z, though. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Art Appreciation
The author discusses the elements which make up a work of art from the Western world; from the Fifteeth century to Modern times. Even with her technical emphasis, giving less attention into movements and subject matter, she maintains an easy writing style. An interesting and serious instruction of art appreciation. There are some colour plates, but most of the reproductions are disappointingly in black and white. For the more casual reader, this focus might be a bit tedious.

Informative
I enjoyed this book on the principles and elements of design. I think she selected exemplary pictures to illustrate her point. I especially enjoyed the chapter on "subject matter". The only drawback of this book was having to flip back and forth from the reading to the painting. Also, she talked about some of the paintings color combinations that were printed in black and white. In the paperback version some of the details of the paintings were lost because they were reproduced on a small scale. Overall, though I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about design elements.

Fine introduction
Composition, space, form, tone, color, subject-matter, and other pictorial elements of the plastic arts are considered and their interrelationships explained in this handy introduction, with over ninety well-chosen illustrations, some in color.
The author, an experienced art teacher, has also included illuminating essays on drawing and its purposes, looking at prints, a handy glossary of art terms, and references for further reading.
Highly recommended as eminently suitable for an Introduction to Art course, and for anyone else interested in learning to see more in paintings.

(The "score" rating is an unfortunately ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.) ... Read more

Book Description

Portraits from Life in 29 Steps presents an elegant, simple and direct procedure for painting a convincing portrait in 29 logical steps.John Howard Sanden has developed this method in more than three decades of painting, demonstrating and teaching.

At the heart of this book are two complete portrait-painting demonstrations; each of the 29 steps is descriptively titled, explained and illustrated to show the clear progression of the portrait.Sanden uses an exciting and appealing premier coup approach to painting, where the artist attempts to execute a finished painting from the very first stroke. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

GREAT BOOK ON PORTRAIT PAINTING
I gave this five stars because it is a wonderful step by step book on portrait painting, directing you where to put the shaded/highlighted areas. The authors promotion of his paints do not bother me one bit. When you get into portrait painting, it is fun to make your own colors (which will be learned with time). In my opinion, this is the best "how to" on painting portraits I have found so far, and I have many.

A good reference book on portrait painting in oil
Now this is a hard case when it comes to rating. The fact of the matter is this is a good book about portrait painting in oil; and the paintings presented in the book using Mr. Sanden's approach (plus his over 30 years of experience) are just beautiful. The book, however, does present a method to paint based essentially on products promoted by the author; and this may be too much for some readers.

I thought I'd point out a few points:

STRENGTHS:

- The book presents a step-by-step approach to render portraits in oil. Two demos are presented systematically in 29 steps, which may be easy for starters to follow. This perhaps is the strongest point of the book to be used as a reference.

- The book also introduces the Pro Mix oil paints and brush packages, both promoted by the author. This may be very good for readers who wish to become professional portrait artists, using the approach presented in the book.

WEAKNESSES: The aformentioned strengths, ironically, may also be the weaknesses of the book.

- In his approach, the author refers frequently to the choice of colors taken from the Pro Mix product. In all fairness, the author DOES describe (in the section "The Pro Mix Portrait Palette", pp38-39) the formulas of how to prepare these Pro Mix colors from commercially available basic colors. So the choice is for the readers to make. One could order the Pro Mix product or mix them oneself. Consequently, to maintain the flow of energy and interest while painting, the readers might as well get the product or pre-mix all the tonal colors before trying out these demos.

- The fact that some products are promoted in the book, apparently, has caused some negative responses from other reviewers (as we see here). In my opinion, if one would like to learn this approach and eventually make a living out of it, one might as well buy the ready-to-use Pro Mix colors for convenience.

In closing, I simply find this is a good reference book in portrait painting, whether one will follow the systematic approach presented in the book. Therefore, I'd give it a 4-star rating.

Value is the Key to Portrait painting
The key value of the book I think is the explanation of the importance of Value and color mixing. The simplified explanation of the use of the Value scale is clear and the examples clarifies this clearly. Furthermore the basic characteristics of color--hue, value, intensity and temperature are well demonstrated with a clear guide to learning how to change and reduce intensity, value and temperature in painting a portrait. Also Sanden gives a convincing demonstration on building a portrait fron the foundation ------great book!

OK, here's the deal...
...a guy who makes tens of thousands of dollars a pop on portrait commissions doesn't desperately need your $70 for his Pro Mix paint set (esp since he gives the reader the recipes right there in the book). Rather, this author offers this time-saving option as a convenience to artists, at the same time encouraging artists to learn to mix the colors themselves (also stated in the book).

And as to his lavish studio, would you want to bring CEOs, heads of state, foreign diplomats, etc., to some cramped, dusty little studio (like most of us work in), or would you re-invest your earnings from such a clientele to obtain a comfortable venue for them to pose in, for many hours at a time?

Look beyond reviews posted here with comments that obssess on these and other irrelevant details (success-envy). It's apparent that Sanden is a master teacher who has worked very hard to get to the level of achievement he now enjoys. It's also apparent he's got this giddy enthusiasm for sharing his secrets; he's got nothin' to lose.

So get and USE this book if you want superior, straightforward and very succinct instruction in portrait painting --indeed in any kind of painting you'll ever do (landscape, still life, abstract, what have you) where an astute understanding of color and value is a requirement. Take the instruction and personalize it, make it your own. You'll be glad you did when you see the big difference it makes in your artwork.

This guy is good- so is his book
Within the narrow scope of portraiture for the well-to-do, Sanden is the best, and he knows how to teach; the book is as methodical as he is. And his paintings look great- the epitome of a sort of smooth and buttery '50s illustrational style, like Haddon Sundblom, but tighter- very disciplined and technically acccomplished, yet lyrical. Any objections to Sanden's seeming promotion of his "Pro-Mix" brand of paints are unfounded (that's where you order a box of pre-mixed colors made by a company which has a deal with the author). He tells you exactly how to mix the colors yourself out of the usual tubes of paint you can buy in any art store, so you can either order them pre-mixed, or do it yourself, so where's the problem? The delight of this book is looking at the step by step demonstrations of all those juicy, painterly pictures of people with lots of personality. His two hour sketches are beauties (more "artistic" than his finished commissions). I got a lot out of the book, most of which is the wisdom of the ages anyway, but stated in a no-nonsense fashion (maybe a little dogmatic in a few instances, but the guy does a certain style and he has his game down pat, so just pick what you need). Sanden's work is aimed at the tastes of those who have become CEOs, Church leaders, and heads of State, and is frankly corny (unless, like me, you are so modern you get off on that) but his revealing demos really explain the dazzling virtuosity. If you're serious about painting heads, this belongs on your shelf. In and of itself, it won't teach you to paint, but what will? ... Read more

Book Description

An excellent beginner's book for those who want to make molds, and/or casts in plaster and rubber, but have no prior experience. Format designed to make the text easy to read with step-by-step instruction on all phases of the mold making, casting and patina process.First edition publication with 116 pages of instruction and over 200 photos and line drawings of specific methods and procedures for any mold making and casting project clearly showing everything needed to make exacting casts of original pieces of sculpture.The text also includes guidance in the repair of casts, as well as mounting for display, and the art of patina or coloring. Includes appendices on mixing procedures for plaster, troubleshooting, general information on gypsum products, enlarging, bronze casting.Charts on proportional requirements of materials, weights and measures, and a glossary of terms are also provided. Recommended for the novice sculptor, mold maker and caster. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

missed the mark
If you are already a technical person who is looking for more information...skip this book. Unfortuneatly it is vague and unhelpful. I say this technically speaking...if you are curious about the process and just want to pick up a bit of vocabulary.. have a look. They could have done a great job with this book... but once again the process falls flat. Don't let the cover fool you.

Only for beginners
While I was able to glean some marginal information from the book, I found it totally unsuitable for an intermediate approach to lost wax casting. This is a great book for a housewife who wants to show her kids how to make relief sculture or simple plaster casts. If you want to find out about the intricacies of casting for bronzes, save your money; you won't find it here. "Moldmaking" describes waste molds and latex, "Casting" is in plaster, and "Patina" is only for gypsum products. I expected more from the title, and I was disappointed.

Wonderful instruction book for a first time mold maker.
Very clear and simple instructions. Takes you step-by-step through several different basic mold making procedures, using simple latex molds and plaster casts. There are a multitude of pictures and line drawings with clear repetitive step-by-step instructions as though the author were working with you in your own home. It is a basic book and not so advanced as to confuse you. Great beginner book. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A priceless resource on the fundamentals of drawing animals.
This book is a clearly written and easy to follow step-by-step guide to drawing animals by applying a comparative anatomy system using geometric shapes to help you understand how animals are put together. This fully illustrated reference contains over a thousand diagrams and illustrations and is structured into twenty carefully organized sections in which the author covers the basic and not-so-basic concepts, principles and techniques you need in order to produce realistic, three dimensional and anatomically accurate renderings of animals.
His topics on specific animals include: the cat family, the bear family, the horse family, the elephant, the dog family, the camel, the giraffe, the hippopotamus, the rhinoceros, the deer family, the buffalo, the cow, the pig, the monkey and the ape family, the kangaroo and the rabbit. As an added bonus he includes other topics: Odd and Unusual Animals, Miscellaneous Small Animals and Animal Interpretation and Abstraction, as well as an Introduction to Animal Drawing in which he focuses on animal simplification, structure, construction, poses, gaits and movements, comparisons and techniques on how to make animals look more natural. As a warning, note that this book only explains how to draw mammals and doesn't include mollusks, amphibians, insects, reptiles or birds.
By studying this book as if it were a textbook on a course, doing all the exercises and reviewing each section afterwards, I have steadily improved my drawings of animals in such a short time that I am now constantly rewarded with praise from my friends and family.
This book will give to the beginner the fundamentals of drawing animals, and will give to the seasoned artist and professional new principles and techniques to try. For both, this book is a must buy.

Jack does it right
Jack's book here is one of the best and most useful. Animals can be tough, admility, and Jack clears up some commen problems faced when drawing these beauitful creatures. Topics range from drawing horses, dogs, big and small cats, elephants, and bears. There are literally hundreds of clear and precise images in this book! Give this book a try, you can't go wrong. The pricetag and content are unbeatable!

The Wham Of Hamm
Jack Hamm is a solid, versatile, and fundamentally sound artist with a rare knack for organizing and presenting information in a simple and clear way. This book, one of his four classic how-tos of drawing, has already been a gift to artists everywhere for generations, and is a priceless resource of knowledge and information. Along with Hultgren's similar book, this is the classic workbook on the subject.

Hamm stresses a solid approach to the construction and anatomy of animals, but also helps the reader grasp the conceptual aspects of how animals are put together and what similarities and differences are important to comprehend. The book is very thorough in grouping animals into basic families, such as big cats, monkeys, elephants, etc., and the organization of the book is a major plus. Hamm is sharply focused on construction, solidity, and three-dimensional views of animals and how they move. A college art course could be taught from this book.

Hamm's greatest admirers have always been his peers- fellow artists will tell you that this is the right aproach to drawing animals, and this book will remain in print and in use forever.

Great Reference for Drawing Animals!
This book is a great reference book for drawing animals and is relatively thorough in showing the different types and their common similarities across, and within, species. I thought it was very good in explaining animal anatomy and smaller details such as how to correctly stripe a tiger. However, you will definitely need to see the animals in person or have your own photo resources because there are no accompanying photos.

Canned Hamm
It's a good book about learning the natural poses of animals. If you like to swipe material to use for sketches this is the book for it. It teaches you how animals look in the wild. ... Read more

Book Description

For both beginning and advanced painters, water can be one of the most popular but least understood of elements. In this instructive guide, author and artist E. John Robinson shows the secrets of painting water, its special properties, and the limitless ways it can be used in paintings of all mediums.

Readers will discover how to use water to convey mood, to capture the effects of wet streets and mud puddles, and to portray fog, ice, and water's reflective qualities. They'll also learn how to paint creeks and lakes, rivers and waterfalls, harbors and the ocean, weaving sunlight and shadow into all their water scenes to create works that flow with life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful, but not as good as the last 2 books!
If you are looking for the same level of instruction as in the prior E. John books, you won't find it. The pictures are beautiful but no major step by step process--more a global overview. I pre-ordered this book months ago, as I think E. John is a phenominal painter and seems so spiritually attuned and connected with the ocean. I was a little disappointed with this edition, but being an admirer of E. John Robinson's, I would have purchased it anyway. ... Read more

Book Description

Both hobbyists and students of design will value this easy-to-use self-teaching book. Each of its 100 sections shows a complete A-to-Z calligraphy alphabet, with lessons on correct pen strokes and advice on avoiding errors. Beginners will find sound basic instruction, while experienced calligraphers can extend their repertoire with letter styles that range from classic Roman to clean and elegant contemporary styles. In addition to analysis of each alphabet’s features, the book’s detailed instruction provides information on— Tools and materials * Layout basics *Numerals and punctuation *Illumination and ornamentation * Tips for the left-handed calligrapher . . . and more. Readers will also find examples by master calligraphers from past eras. This book’s spiral binding ensures that pages lay flat when opened, allowing calligraphers to study and copy each pen stroke with ease. The Calligrapher’s Bible is printed in color and features more than 350 illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Journey Through Time
It is amazing that this one small book contains the physicality of writing of Western civilizations and its development. Writing has forever been the keeper of culture, and this book allows you to travel through time, visiting its development, not only in its formal venues, but variants as well. It gives you the how-to, but brilliantly flashes bits of history to better understand the evolutions of calligraphy. This is one book that no calligraphy afficionado should be without. It is the ultimate collection of alphabets used in various time periods, as well as a springboard into further research of the history of calligraphy itself. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I respect Parramon, wish I could rate it even higher
Jose Parramon's book, "How to draw the human figure" in my opinion, barely missed defining the genre of "figure drawing" texts for beginners. He covers fundaments of anatomy well, and yet leaves me wanting for some illustrations of specific muscles in master drawings such as Robert Beverly Hale uses. Parramon also uses simple block figures in a variety of poses and dynamic motion, which every beginner needs, but he could have included just a couple more pages of illustration also. I guess this is where I take exception to Parramon's text, for I find myself strangely wishing he had done more in nearly every chapter.

One added bonus in this book, is on page 24, where a reproduction of Luca Cambiaso's block figure drawing is shown. I haven't found that on the internet. This demonstrates the method the Renaissance masters used to learn figure drawing, and is the singular key omitted from the faddish and gimmick drawing books ("Drawing On the Right Side of the Brain" etc) on the market today.

The pages containing a pattern for a cutout figure, referred to as the "articulated doll" seemed entirely unnecessary, unless one is so poor as to be unable to afford a wooden articulated artist's model for $10.00. It's a disappointment to feel that an author is personally masterful of his craft, but somehow produces a book that yields only a glimmer of his brilliance. I am happy to have one in my library, just the same.

Typical
Typical but with many repeated drawings as seen in other art instruction books.

Draw like this !
See those figure drawings on the back cover? If you can make those, you understand the basics of figure drawing. They show a feel for the figure, in a general sense, the basic proportions and how things relate to each other. These exercises teach the basic shapes and positions. You will solidify your understanding of how the body moves and carries itself, to create more natural and flowing sketches. ... Read more

Reviews (3)