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The Complete Guide to Drawing & Illustration: A Practical and Inspirational Course for Artists of All Abilities
This book will use practical exercises in easy stages to help you learn the rules you need to understand. It is not so much a reference volume as a complete and hands-on course in drawing, suitable for beginner and improver alike. The aim throughout The Complete Book of Drawing and Illustration is to demystify the subject and, at every stage, treat drawing as a rewarding activity that encourages observation, experimentation and play. The emphasis is on developing a personal drawing style and the practical application of your growing skills in the comprehensive sections on illustration and cartooning. Once you have mastered all the basics, you will find that you have a new world of creative expression at your fingertips to be employed as you choose.
If you have always wanted to excel at drawing, then The Complete Guide to Drawing & Illustration is the book for you. All you need is a pencil, a bit of blank paper, and the expert guidance you will find within these pages. This book is designed to systematically teach you the essentials of drawing and lays the groundwork for you to develop your own personal drawing style.
If you have always wanted to excel at drawing, then The Complete Guide to Drawing & Illustration is the book for you. All you need is a pencil, a bit of blank paper, and the expert guidance you will find within these pages. This book is designed to systematically teach you the essentials of drawing and lays the groundwork for you to develop your own personal drawing style.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
6 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Peter C. Gray
69 books2 followersIllustrator of books, magazines, newspapers, advertising and packaging for children and adults.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 29, 2014
I was scouting around for some way to meet people and make friends whilst doing something I enjoyed, when I happened across a Live Drawing Class; so I joined up and spent a couple of hours drawing this nude guy in a class of 20 others doing the same.
Well, I wasn't really very good at it so, to hone my skills, I tripped off to the library and got me a book - this book.
I read and followed the instructions in the relevant chapter (figures), which enabled me to draw some nude women. Then I put the book down and drew another nude woman - just to make sure. Then I went back to the class the following week.
I spent another couple of hours in a room, with 20 others like me, drawing a nude guy. And even though the tutor commented that had improved (I told him I got a book) I thought to myself 'I can think of better things to do with £20 than this!'
So the book went on the shelf and I thought of better things.
After having paid a couple of overdue fines on the library book I thought I'd better get on with reading it, and it's surprising how much enjoyment you can get out of a book like this without actually picking up a pencil.
There are sections on drawing shapes, landscapes, townscapes, figures, faces, animals and cartoons.
The examples and instructions are easy to follow and there are plenty of clear illustrations (the author/artist is one talented guy).
All the technical stuff is covered such as perspective, shading/toning, layout and various media (pencils/pens/watercolour (bit of a misnomer as it's all black and white)/crayons/chalk).
This isn't a funny book, like the Dummies books. It isn't a history book - it doesn't try to give any insight into the way various art forms and techniques have developed. What it is though is a good solid introduction to drawing pretty much anything you might think of and a guide to developing your skills so that you can produce some mighty fine illustrations.
If you need a good intro to drawing - look no further.
Well, I wasn't really very good at it so, to hone my skills, I tripped off to the library and got me a book - this book.
I read and followed the instructions in the relevant chapter (figures), which enabled me to draw some nude women. Then I put the book down and drew another nude woman - just to make sure. Then I went back to the class the following week.
I spent another couple of hours in a room, with 20 others like me, drawing a nude guy. And even though the tutor commented that had improved (I told him I got a book) I thought to myself 'I can think of better things to do with £20 than this!'
So the book went on the shelf and I thought of better things.
After having paid a couple of overdue fines on the library book I thought I'd better get on with reading it, and it's surprising how much enjoyment you can get out of a book like this without actually picking up a pencil.
There are sections on drawing shapes, landscapes, townscapes, figures, faces, animals and cartoons.
The examples and instructions are easy to follow and there are plenty of clear illustrations (the author/artist is one talented guy).
All the technical stuff is covered such as perspective, shading/toning, layout and various media (pencils/pens/watercolour (bit of a misnomer as it's all black and white)/crayons/chalk).
This isn't a funny book, like the Dummies books. It isn't a history book - it doesn't try to give any insight into the way various art forms and techniques have developed. What it is though is a good solid introduction to drawing pretty much anything you might think of and a guide to developing your skills so that you can produce some mighty fine illustrations.
If you need a good intro to drawing - look no further.
January 20, 2021
2nd book i have used to Improve my drawing skills, very effective with drawing faces, above average with drawing bodies
June 14, 2008
Comprehensive and maybe even a bit too much so. It didn't do anything to help my nonexistent draughtsmanship, I tell you that much.
May 26, 2011
A good starting place for those learning to draw.
April 6, 2017
Clear instructions on how to draw things from still life to comics, but all very much in an introductory fashion.
If you want something in depth on a particular subject, this is not the book for you. If you are a beginner and are looking for a general overview of different types of drawing; take a peek.
If you want something in depth on a particular subject, this is not the book for you. If you are a beginner and are looking for a general overview of different types of drawing; take a peek.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews