The Artist's Eye: (Learning to See)

by Peter Jenny

This series of small primers on drawing encourages readers not only to pick up a pen and start drawing, but to see the world that surrounds them with fresh eyes. Visual thinking and using one's imagination are skills that are often neglected in today's world. With author Peter Jenny's help, readers will learn to perceive their environment in a new way and will soon follow his lead, discovering the joy of drawing. The three books in the series each present a short introduction by Jenny and twenty-two easy exercises, with each book focusing on a different Notes on Drawing Technique takes actions such as gesticulating, touching, feeling, doodling, and moving as the starting points for putting pen to paper. Notes on Figure Drawing focuses on the archetypal presentation of the human figure, and Learning to See teaches the reader to discover art in everyday objects.

Genres: Art, Design, Nonfiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book for getting ideas, but nothing mind blowing.

[Valentina Rebeschini · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a nice little book that gives you ideas to expand your creativity. It was nothing new for me to be honest, but a reminder that we can work on our creativity by doing simple exercises. And we can look at everyday things as art.

[Eirinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tiny book about where to get inspiration from. Well illustrated. Charming projects but not
mind-blowing.

[Oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

art is still dead

[Aroa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graciasa este libro conseguí aprobar dibujo técnico porque cambió mi perspectiva de diversas formas.

[Deb Jacobs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Essentially this is an ideas book, encouraging the artist to find inspiration in unusual places, such as cloud formations, puddles or randomly dropped drawing pins. What lets it down is that the text (what little there is) is dry and academic with no enthusiasm apparent. I picked the book up in the children's section of the National Gallery shop on Trafalgar Square, but I couldn't imagine children (or me) gaining much from it.

My other complaint is that the pictures and captions don't seem to match, and that the pictures are pretty much all in black and white. The captions are difficult to read on similar coloured backgrounds. For £7:99 I'd have expected more.

[Wei Cho · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is helpful for those seeking to learn to see but I felt that it was just a compilation of common knowledge. I'm sure many people can see images in clouds, on tree leaves, and etc. without having this book as a guide. I think this book is more to train the imagination rather than an artist book, like the title claims. I felt like this book was like whatever, that I've heard it all before and that I didn't learn anything new.

[Eris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirador
"Solo cuando te han invadido la ganas de conocer el mundo, cuando me he sentid frustrada en el trabajo... y levantarme cada mañana es una tortura....puedo imaginarme fácilmente sentada en un avión, bebiendo una copa de prosecco..."

[Kathleen]

Charming book about how to see like an artist--very approachable. Has simple, but creative projects. Well illustrated. It's a tiny book that will fit in a pocket.

[romizane · Rating 5 out of 5]

un hermoso tesoro en mi biblioteca <3