Reviews (6)

A Healthy Dose of Cartooning Fun
This book by Blitz is a combination of several smaller books. It is full of wonderful ideas and techniques for putting your cartooning characters on paper. The price is great and it's worth the purchase. I would definitely recommend. :o)

BRUCE BLITZ CARTOONING
Absolutely the most "checked-out" book in our 6TH GRADE art-class library.
I have two copies, and will buy more.
Kids can't get enough of this book!!!!!

The Best Cartooning Book I Have Ever Seen
This book shows you everything from the basics of cartooning to how to sell your cartoon. It shows you how to do many cartoon face features and even draw people you know. Bruce Blitz makes it easy and fun to learn how to cartoon. THIS BOOK IS GREAT!

Big Book of Cartooning
Bruce Blitz Big Book of Cartooning is terrific! The methods used are simple, easy to follow and entertaining. His ideas and experience are a must for people in the cartooning business. I am using his book as a number one reference for my cartoons.
It is a must buy book if you want to succeed in cartooning.

Excellente
Simple to understand, but heavy with content. Suited for tweens to teens who have a desire to learn cartooning. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Best way to spend a rainy afternoon
I spent hours creating entire worlds based on these books. They are a wonderful introduction to basic drawing skills and are FUN!!!

You can draw!!
These books are the greatest. I own all of the Emberly books. They are fun for adults and kids alike. You are never too old or young to learn to draw. This book will make you the most hip doodler in school or at work. Ed makes it really easy!
This book is from a series of 4 books from Emberly are the easiest books on drawing there are, period. Anyone young or old can learn to draw some great critters and vehicles from these books. ANYONE! All of his Big Color books are great, (They are a series, each named after a color). This one is famous for the easy way it shows you how to draw step by step a great big green dragon, but it is simple when you do it his way. This book includes a number of fun ideas including Frankenstein, sailboat and trees. He even shows you how to make yours unique rather than a copy of his drawings. You can be the doodle hero of your classroom or office after using this book. He does it simply using very simple steps, lines, and basic shapes to start you off. My favorite in the series would be the Purple Book, but they are all good.
If you want to move up from here and learn the terminology of what you are doing, and really become an accomplished artist, the next step after these are the terrific books by "Jack Hamm". If you just want to have some fun, get this book!

Kids love this series
My students love these books. The drawings are simple and easy to follow. Teachers will find it easy to use this book for short directed drawing lessons. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Van Gogh (Getting to Know The World's Greatest Artists)
This book offered a great resource for my classroom. There is a lot to read about his life and history so I would definitely not use it as a read-aloud. I do however, use this book to point out significant events in his life. The illustrations are light and add humor to an otherwise depressing life. They bring the artist to life and that makes it easier for my students to relate to and it keeps up their interest. Informative and enjoyable, this book is a must have for teachers.

Excellent art appreciation but questionable cartoons
Well, we should not have been surprised that Vincent Van Gogh presents a challenge to Mike Venezia, because the tragic life of this particular artist does not especially lend itself to the cartoons that Venezia includes in his Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series. On the one hand we are talking about one of the most famous artists of all time, whose paintings now sell for millions and millions of dollars. But on the other hand we have a man who suffered severe emotional problems, cut off his ear, and ended up committing suicide. To be fair, Van Gogh was the epitome of the starving artist, and while none of the cartoons in the book goes too far, the one on the back of Venezia's self-portrait with a paper-cut is over the line given that this is a book for children.

The strength of the book is that Venezia does one of his best jobs of explaining the unique style of the artist with his look at Van Gogh. It is ironic that in a book where the subject presents such problems, Venezia provides ten cartoons in the book, which might be the most I have seen in any of his volumes to date (there are 22 paintings and drawings by Van Gogh). Certainly the cartoons do not reflect the tone of the text, which deals with Van Gogh's problems in a straight-forward manner. But given the fate of the artist, it is hard to find them totally appropriate. Again, to be fair, this is Venezia's format and we could not expect him to abandon it and perhaps he was trying to provide a counterbalance to Van Gogh's self-destructive impulses. Certainly parents should check this one out and make a judgment for their own children, and teachers should do the same thing for their students. A good alternative text, although written for a slightly older audience, is "What Makes a Van Gogh a Van Gogh" put out by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Masterful Presentation of Difficult Material
This is a truthful and sensitive presentation of information about an artist who suffered from an emotional disorder and often was not a happy person. Mr. Venezia does not gloss over Van Gough's difficulties, but presents them in a way that children can understand within the context of explaining what was importaint to the artist, and how the man's feelings and life experiences affected his paintings. When I read the book, I decided not present it to my daugher as early as the other Venezia artist and composer biographies. I waited until I thought she could clearly separate in her mind what other people do from the things our family does. Each parent will need to decide when their own child is ready for information about a great artist who ulimately commited suicide; it is the old decision between sheltering a child or presenting disturbing information when you are there to talk about it with them. Aside from these considerations, I strongly feel that the book maintains the same high standards found in all of Mr. Venezia's books. Any swerving from the facts to maintain a glossy finish (i.e., the traditional fairy tale happy ending?) would have been disappointing.

wonderful book!
If you want your child to learn to know and love art, Mike Venezia's books are what you need! Like all the books in this series, this is an interesting, informative book, introducing art and artists to kids in a humorous, funny and captivating way. My son read all the books of Venezia, he loved them, and became interested in art, history and geography through these books (at the age of 7!). The homurous way Venezia uses is exactly what makes it so interesting for small kids. Don't miss these books!

Disappointing and Trivializing...
I was mortified when I read this book! I realize the author was attempting to make van Gogh accessible to the 4-8 age group, but I feel he makes van Gogh look pathetic. Though intended to be cute and humorous, a few of the cartoons in the book are especially rude and disrespectful to the artist, and they misrepresent him. Van Gogh deserves much better! ... Read more

Book Description

When Senmut's sculpting chisel slips from his fingers, accidentally killing a sacred dove, Egyptian priests exile the 9-year-old boy to a lifetime of hard labor in the gold mines of Nubia. Wrenched from his family, forced to endure brutal guards and unending heat, Senmut turns to the one thing he loves best -- his sculpture.Can it set him free?"The suspense never flags, and details of the period are so smoothly integrated that the action never slows, either." -- Booklist"An exciting and information-filled adventure. The details of the daily life, customs, and beliefs of the people are wonderfully revealed through the words and deeds of the characters. The story has enough excitement to capture the interest of even the most reluctant readers." -- School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Couldn't stop reading this book.
A great read with lots of emotion. This book gave me a really good feeling of ancient Egypt and made me feel like I was there. I felt like I could have been Senmut because he was a boy my age and seemed to be like me. I learned lots about Egypt while enjoying the characters and setting.

I had mixed feelings up until Chp. 5 - Great!
A place in the sun is great. At first you say Mum this is borring. When you have just finised chapter 5 you think this is great. When you have finished the whole book you will say 'thank you Mum & Dad. This is for ten year olds and I am only Eight. You should get it! Tamanna Breen

I liked it; it was a perfect book.
A Place in the Sun is about a boy named Senmut who lives in Egypt. He must go to the mines of Nubia for a serious crime. Read A Place in the Sun to find out what the crime is. I like Senmut's adventures. His adventures can go from roaring in the desert to spying on thefts. I do not like their gross food. I would recommend this to a quiet person or an adventurous person. I would recommend for you to be 9 or up to read this book. Alex, age 9

It's a good book.
A Place in the Sun is about a boy who is named Senmut. He has many adventures. He lives in Egypt. I liked the book because everything turns out OK. There are some hard words in the book. I recommend you should be 8 or up to read this book. But it is your choice. Eric, age 8 ... Read more

Product Description

The focus of this book is drawing cars from the side and at an angle. Contains drawing instructions for several dozen modern sports cars, trucks and several "old-timer" cars as well. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Draw Cars
I own the older version of this book by Doug DuBosque and I think that this book is absolutely a best buy. I am a middle-schooler and I like to draw cars in my spare time. This book like many other books gives the reader something else to do other than read and read and read. I think that this is an excellent book and I give it 5 stars and 2 thumbs up.

This book is cool!
I am 9 years old and I love to draw pictures of cars. This book tells you how to draw some very cool cars like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Dodge Viper. If you like to draw like I do, you might want to get this book.

aswome
Great book, i drew almost all the carws in it and some on the way to my vacation in south carolina. it teaches you the basics on how cars are drawn by the format they give you its easy, my freind got the hang of it in 20 min! its worth your buy. you get a format for: BMW, Porche, Mercades, and all other brands like Corvette, Audi, etc.

I didn't know I could draw!!
This book is very well done. I searched for a book that wasn't "cartoonish" and I found it. I'm going to school for automotive engineering and I wanted to learn how to sketch concept cars quickly, and this book showed me how.

I dont like to read...so this book was great for the pictures and concise explainations. Again, a very well done book!

Fantastic for Beginners
This is a great book if you want to start learning how to draw cars. He starts off with some easy tricks and tips, and then launches full force into drawing cool cars. Much better than some books that start off with the assumption that you already are an incredible artist. ... Read more

Book Description

This imaginative board book features beautiful paintings by a renowned artist paired with playful, rhyming text. Children can enter Edgar Degas's magical world of toe shoes, tutus and elegant ballerinas. Dancing with Degas is a fun introduction to art and an imaginative adventure all rolled into one! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A winner in the "Favorite Books" stakes!
We bought this for my little guy when he was about 7 months old -- I loved the concept of exposing him to classical art in a way that was appropriate for his age. A picture book with a fun ryming story was just right!

Little did I realize that this, of all his dozens of books, would be the first to really capture his attention! Up to the point at which he decided this was his favorite book, Jack showed limited interest in books. But at some point he decided that books are very cool -- and Dancing with Degas was the first one he expected us to read to him over and over and over -- sometimes five repetitions at a sitting!

He has since added other books to his list of favorites -- but Dancing with Degas remains up there toward the top of the list.

When he turned one year, we got selveral more of Merberg and Bober's books, and he likes them all. But this one is still his favorite.

I highly recommend it! (And if you play Mozart quietly in the background as you read, the dancers seem to practially fly off the page!)

A fun and beautiful book!
I bought this for my daughter's first birthday and we love it! It is filled with Degas' paintings and a fun ryhming verse. It's a great way to introduce your little one to classical art in a format geared toward little readers. ... Read more

Book Description

What do we feel when we look at a great work of art/ What does a poet feel/ Heart to Heart offersan original way to approach poetry and art—with new works by distinguished American poets, specially commissioned for this book by editor Jan Greenberg. Prompted by paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs by American artists working in the 20th century, these poems lend a new meaning to “art appreciation” and make each page of Heart to Heart an exciting discovery.

Join such poets as Jane Yolen, Nancy Willard, X. J. Kennedy, Naomi Shihab Nye, David Mura, and Angela Johnson as they reveal a personal, heartfelt response to works by Thomas Hart Benton, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Grandma Moses, Faith Ringgold, Man Ray, Georgia O’Keeffe, and many others. Whether the poems are playful, challenging, tender, mocking, humorous, sad, or sensual, each work of art, seen through the eyes of a poet, allows readers to look at the world with new insight. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Getting to the Heart of Art
This is a great book for artists and non artists alike. It is a useful tool for any age group in understanding visual imagery. The poetry is done in response to art that ranges in style and media, giving the reader/viewer a wide exposure to the arts.

The poerty is crisp, interesting and meaningful to contemporary culture without being trite or overly stylized.

This book is a great educational resource, coffee table book, or good cure for the common boredom! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Great even if your not a cartoonist
The catalog of 150 emotions and expressions in this book is worth the price in itself. It not only teaches cartooning but also protraying emotion and life into a figure. Cartoonists, animators, illustrators, comic book artists, and even character designers could really benifit from this book. Tons of drawings, (a few thousand - plus)!, and very clear, understandable instructions. I can't begin with that it covers... I'd need a book just to cover all it's topics.

If drawing semi-cartoon, or realistic people / funny animals is your fancy,... don't pass this book up!, it can be a HUGE help even still. Look for his "Drawing the Head and Figure" book as well, another 5-stars on that title.

A complete reference on cartooning the head and figure.
This book is a clearly written, easy to follow, detailed and concise handbook on cartooning the head and figure by using several different styles and variations, and emphasizing humor and exaggeration. This fully illustrated reference contains over 3,000 step-by-step diagrams and illustrations and is structured into sixteen carefully organized sections that cover the basic and not so basic principles of cartooning.
It includes general topics like caricatures, cartooning styles and techniques, the head and face, the standing, walking and running figure, different positions for the figure, and emotions and facial expressions (the alphabetized catalog of 150 emotions and expressions alone is worth the price of this book). He also goes into specific topics like hands, feet and clothing, pretty girls, babies and children, and sports cartoons. As an added bonus he includes additional topics such as Advertising Applications for Cartoons and Special Problems which cover specific characters like hobos, tramps and the military, and conversations, special attires and crowds, among others.
By studying this book as if it were a textbook on a course, doing all the exercises and reviewing each section afterwards, my cartoons have come to life in a very, very short time.
The invaluable and practical advice in this book is essential for any artist's reference library and can be particularly useful for beginners, cartoonists, animators, characters designers, and comic book artists. It also serves as a great source book for ideas.

A must for people learning illustration
I think I've read this book more than 100 times. It is one of my favorite references for illustrating the human figure.

Chalk Full Of Visuals!
This book is full from beginning to end of illustrations and examples of the art it teaches. Jack Hamm tends to have a more realistic cartooning style than some, but the book has a lot to offer.

With such categories as: The face and hands. the pretty girl, the caricature, the figure in different positions, the walking figure, the running figure, the hands, the feet, the clothing, the advertising application--Newspapers, Magazines, Television, Etc., the baby and child, the sport cartoon, and special problems, not tel mention tons of sub-categories, this book will give you a healthy dose of cartooning experience for a very reasonable price. I would recommend this!

Essential Cartooning Reference
What keeps me coming back to Hamm's books is the vast amount of RELEVANT drawing advice he gives. Each page is crammed with innumerable examples and variations, snippets of practical advice, and a touch of paternal wisdom. I can think of no other drawing manuals that are so consistently good.

This volume focuses on cartooning, not realistic drawing. Exaggeration and humor are emphasized, and it's ideal for begginers, intermediate, or advanced artists. Everyone can learn something from these books and I consider them essential to my reference library. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Purple Pirates!
Another great Emberley book teaching how to draw by using simple geometric shapes to build anything from pandas, poodles, robots or even intricately detailed pirate ships.

You can do it, not just for kids Too!
This series of books from Emberly are the easiest books on drawing there are, period. Anyone young or old can learn to draw some great critters and vehicles from these books. All of his Big Color books are great, as is his "Make A World" book. This one is famous for the easy way it shows you how to draw step by step, what appears to be a complex pirate ship. He even shows you how to make yours unique rather than a copy of his drawings. You can be the doodle hero of your class or office after using this book. He does it simply using very simple steps, lines, and basic shapes to start you off. If you want to learn the terminology of what you are doing, and really become an accomplished artist, the next step after these are the terrific Jack Hamm books. If you just want to have some fun, get this book!

Great book! It entertains children of any age for hours.
This book is incredibly entertaining. From a complex pirate ship to a simple bunch of grapes, these books teach you how to draw a complicated picture in a series of easy steps. It will keep children of every age occupied for hours, as well as adults.

Ed Emberley's Big Purple Drawing Book
What a wonderful book! I bought this for my four year old daughter who loves to draw and it is a big hit. What is most appealing is the range in level of drawings. From a simple panda to a much more complex pirate ship, I can see my daughter using this book for years to come. Each picture is broken down into easy to follow step by step instructions/illustrations. This technique really built my daughter's confidence in her ability to draw a wide range of things. She is now able to look at an illustration and see that although it may appear difficult, it is really a grouping of shapes and lines. Many of these shapes and lines she could already draw, but was unaware that by putting them together in certain ways she could draw wonderful pictures. I highly recommend this book for children and adults who want to learn to draw!

Amazing Drawing
Ed Emberly shows a wounderful way to draw all sorts of objects from imaginary robots to small animals. I didn't think I could draw robots this well until I started drawing with this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

I love it!
The text in the book is very sweet. However, the best part about this book are the pictures. They are very vibrant and extremely beautiful. I read it to my class and they really enjoyed it. ... Read more

Book Description

Ten full-color images depict maritime marauders wielding sword, pirate with his parrot, skull-and-crossbones flag, pirate vessel, more. Instructions.
... Read more

Book Description

COME LOOK WITH ME: Enjoying Art with Children is the first volume in the COME LOOK WITH ME series of interactive art books from Lickle Publishing.Each book in the series introduces children to twelve magnificent works of art.More importantly, they offer a whole new way of encountering any work of art, one that engages the imagination as much as the eye.

Well suited for both individual and classroom use, Enjoying Art with Children pairs quality art reproductions with thought-provoking questions, encouraging children to learn through visual exploration and interaction.Thoughtful text introduces the world and work of the artist, making the most of a child’s natural curiosity.

Children are invited to search out the details that bring works of art to life – the tattered sleeve of a street urchin in John Brown’s A Tough Story, and the rosy complexion of a young musician in Renoir’s Two Girls at the Piano.

Drawing from a wide-ranging selection of works of art, from Hans Holbein the Younger’s 16th century portrait of a one-year-old Edward VI, Edward VI as a Child, to Pablo Picasso’s 1938 study of his daughter with a sailor doll, Maya with a Doll, children explore the artwork with lessons in perspective, color, line, and even in the nature of creative freedom.

Engaging and interactive for both children and adults, Lickle Publishing’s COME LOOK WITH ME series celebrated what Mrs. Blizzard called the "pleasure of shared experience." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Educational. Look at Art with Children
This is a good book for adults and children. There is a picture on one page and on the next page there is a little bit of information about the picture and some questions to inspire thinking about the picture.

Examples of questions might be- what are the childrenn in this painting feeling? What makes you think so? What is the father in this painting thinking about?

This book inspires young children to look at pictures in a different way. It inspires them to put the story to the painting and to explore what the painting is trying to 'say'. Because of this it is a good introduction to art for young children.

Enjoy.

A new way of looking at picture books
We just started "looking" at Ms Blizzard's book, and it has already opened a whole new world for my children to discover. The format (full page color pictures accompanied by historical reference and discussion questions) is as enjoyable for the children as it is for adults. As a homeschool mother I appreciate the opportunity it provides to take a moment and wonder what the artist may have had in mind when they created their work. I also thank the author for the corresponding list of open ended discussion questions she provides. Take a moment to really look at a picture and let the child interpret it. You may be surprized at how they respond. I know I was. It has become especially popular with my 3 year old who considers the children her friends. We look at it daily and can't wait to add to our collection with another edition of the authors works. A wonderful introduction to art appreciation for all ages. Thank you Ms. Blizzard for a wonderful book! This series is sure to be a hit with all who appreciate art. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the theory and techniques of perspective, from the Renaissance to Pop Art.

Since the principles of perspective were first shown in Renaissance Italy, the depiction of depth and space has held a central place in Western art. Artists have endeavored to represent three-dimensional images that are as close as possible to what we actually see. Not until the 20th century were these principles rejected in favor of a distorted viewpoint. See the impossible triangle and other perspective puzzles, and famous masterpieces accompanied by explanatory diagrams. Learn how abstract art conveys depth, how the invention of oil paints made it possible to capture atmospheric effects. Discover what archery has to do with art theory, and what a camera obscura is. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Visual delight - but not a workbook
Like all of DK's Eyewitness Series books, this guide to understanding perspective is richly illustrated, and its subject matter is presented clearly, with fascinating coverage from an historical perspective (no pun intended). It covers aspects of perspective few other books on the subject delve into, such as curvilinear and aerial perspective and anamorphosis.

The book does not, however, include methods of implementing perspective in one's own drawings. For that, you need Norling's _Perspective Made Easy_ or Metzger's _Persective Without Pain_.

A visual treat
Eyewitness Art: Perspective is a history of the development of perspective in art. It's profusely illustrated with drawings, with photographs of instruments that artists used to cope with perspective and also with photographs of famous paintings from the Italian Renaissance, the Northern European Renaissance and later.

It's intended for children from 9 to 12, but any adult interested art will enjoy spending time with this book. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Must Have!
This book is absolutely fabulous! My daughter received it as a gift for her 4th birthday. She would sit and draw every picture. She is now 6 and still loves it! This book is so easy for any child to use. The step by step detailed pictures show the child how to draw the picture from start to finish. It is not like some books that skip steps. This outlines every single step, your little one will not be disappointed!

momof2
This book was perfect for my 5 year old. The step by step drawings were easy enough for her to do. There are many different drawings to choose from. It is a favorite of hers.

A really good starting art book for youngsters
I brought this book for my 5 year old, and it has quickly become her favorite. She loves to sit a create pictures following the step by step illustrations to create a cat, a pig, a wizard, a dragon, a rocket, etc. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent
If you are an art teacher, this book is worth the buy. I have used it over and over again! I found it by way of another art teacher. It can be used in primary and secondary art classes. I reccomend this book all the way.

Wonderful resource for any art teacher
This book is a great resource for any art teacher. I am an elementary (k-6) art teacher and I use these coloring book pages for my students to help re-enforce the art history lessons that I use in the classroom. It is great for them to see and color a copy of a painting that they have learned about at the end of the lesson, and they have a masterpiece to take home with them. I have used them with all my students, and all age ranges. Some of them are a little difficult for the kindergarteners because the pictures are very detailed...but it is a great way to help develop those fine motor skills for the little ones. My students love to color their own masterpieces after we have discussed the actual painting in the classroom. I use this at least once a week, and the interesting facts that accompany every painting are well written and concise.

You Can Make Your Own Masterpiece!
I have just received my coloring book of masterpieces and I was very happy at the kinds of paintings that were put into the book. They are some of the ones i have studied in humanities and art history. They are really neat to copy onto a canvas and paint them. I like the information they include on the artists and what time period they lived in. I hope they come out with a second book of just more masterpieces to color.

Start Exploring Masterpieces
This is a great coloring book! It is a fun, kinesthetic method of learning and enjoying 500 years of great paintings. The drawings are not overly detailed, enabling you to use your imagination in coloring with just enough detail to do justice to the painting.

The stories are brief but entertaining. You are given information about the painting, including the nationality and style and date of the author as well as where the painting is now located. This is very useful in searching for more information on the painting.

Highly recommended to anyone who would like to expose their children (or themselves) to great art in a fun and relaxing way! A great springboard to learning. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Escher-esque
Color book for teen-agers and adults that want some occupational therapy. Images (as with Escher) are often redundant and beauty is in contemplating the infinite. Don't do this to your kid unless they are already well-advanced into neurosis! (Note: Two-page (non-redundant) "poster" is wonderful for those that like the whimsical style of Escher's creatures.) ... Read more

Book Description

"Brad" explores the ups and downs of van Gogh's life and art in this colorful report, featuring Brad's funny cartoons alongside reproductions of classic paintings like Starry Night. ... Read more

Book Description

In the best-selling tradition of How To Draw Pokemon, this new title in one of Troll's most popular series teaches kids how to draw their favorite Nintendo heroes and villains, from Donkey Kong and Mario to Luigi, Link, Princess Zelda, Yoshi, and more! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Nintendo Needs Work on How To Draw Books.
I found this book very enjoyable, but the books seems to short. I could use more pictures on some of the characters that lacked a body tutorial. Like Wario, the book only teaches you to draw his mug, and I want more than that!

Some characters needed more poses, and some were just plain excluded from the book. Like Lanky, or Funky, or Cranky from Donkey Kong 64. Do not get me wrong, I love this book, but it is somewhat lacking in the selection of poses.

This book has tedious drawing instructions, but if you are a Nintendo fan, and are persistent, this book is for you!

Drawing made simple
My kids love the classic Nintendo games, and this easy, step-by-step guide helped them learn to draw their favorite Nintendo heroes (and bad guys). Lots of drawing fun at an affordable price.

This book was not easy at all!
I bought this book about 3 or 4 years ago. I havent looked at it since because it was too hard and it didn't have the right steps
needed to draw the drawings.

Too difficult for most Nintendo-playing kids
...I thought this book would be great for a 9 yr old but the instructions were too tedious for him. He ended up getting too frustrated and has never picked up the book again...

Good for its low price but a little skimpy
I bought this book for my ten-year-old son who is a dedicated "Nintendo person" and wants to learn to draw some of his favorite characters. The author and illustrator have taken some of these animated figures and have shown how to develop drawings by breaking the overall process down into three stages.

The first step is to get the basic shapes/perspectives correct, and then the details are filled in over the next two steps. This is a tried and true approach to drawing, but for some of the more complex characters even the very first "perspective and shapes" sketch is kind of difficult for kids to do correctly. Consequently, I think that an additional, even more basic stage/step might have been helpful.

My son reports that he's happy with the book because it includes Krool and Link, the personalities he most wanted to draw. At only 32 pages, however, this short guide clearly is not comprehensive, and there is no guarantee that a particular Nintendo personality a child may have in mind will be included here. Still, overall, this is an extremely useful book and certainly the only one of its kind. My son has already spent hours in deep concentration practicing his sketching, and I think that in itself is quite an endorsement of the work offered here by Mr. Teitlebaum and Mr. Zalme. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Excellent introduction to special effects
Ok, so I'm not 9-12 years old (the book's target audience), I'm almost 30 and I still enjoyed this book tremendously. It has awesome illustrations to show the techniques used in various effects like robotics, miniature models, etc. The explainations are easy to understand too. This book took the mystery out of the state-of-art special fx with recent blockbuster movies as examples. For an introduction to special effects, it's excellent. ... Read more