Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered

by Quentin Blake, John Cassidy (Editor)

This write-right-in-it book of tips, techniques, and shameless cheerleading for every want-to-be artist is like a sketchbook with training wheels. Pages of scribble-starters and what-to-draw ideas created by beloved artist Sir Quentin Blake (himself a master scribbler), create a funny, ridiculously-encouraging kids’ drawing book that proves that you can laugh and draw at the same time.

Comes 106 page book, sketch pen, 2 watercolor pencils.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Drawing, Childrens, Humor, Creative, Reference

106 pages, Spiral-bound

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

Sir Quentin Saxby Blake is an English cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator and children's writer. He has illustrated over 300 books, including 18 written by Roald Dahl, which are among his most popular works. For his lasting contribution as a children's illustrator he won the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2002, the highest recognition available to creators of children's books. From 1999 to 2001, he was the inaugural British Children's Laureate. He is a patron of the Association of Illustrators.

Reviews

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this! It's a GREAT guide to doodling. It's not about drawing things super realistically, it's more about just hanging loose with art and quickly sketching whatever you feel like.
It's by the guy who illustrates the Roald Dahl books, Quentin Blake. Each page prompts you to draw something, or finish a drawing the author started. One of my favorites was a page called "Emotional Rabbits." Depending on the look of the outline of a rabbit, you have to add in the facial expressions. For example, one of the outlines had a rabbit with his ears hanging down; he was looking down and he was hunched over. He clearly looked sad, so judging by his body language I added in an epic tearful face :)
This book made drawing the most simple and random things fun. One page is devoted to drawing buckets, another to candles, one for brooms, and so on. In the fine print below each page is a suggestion pile in case you can't think of anything to draw. The book allowed you to give character to inanimate objects (for example, I drew a bucket overloaded with caffeine).
Spontaneity! :) :) :) :)
:P
I should bring this to Art Club b/c I never know what to draw...

[Ari Chand · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastical whimsical book. The authors take the reader through a journey of simplifying drawing as concept development. How to represent an idea, emotion, thing in an easily identifiable drawing that anyone can recognise. A book for children and adults alike to evaluate the way we perceive the world and can embed drawing as the translation of both what we see and think.

Drawing is a persistent mechanism by which we learn and develop. Innately linked to the human experience, this book is an interactive book (it comes with pencils!) and can get the reader started in how to imagine or re-imagine the way they can represent ideas and narrative. Highly recommend!

[^ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An irresistable and absolute gem of a very practical, 'hands-on' book. The informative text encourages the reader's imagination, and the drawings scattered around the white space of the page encourage the reader to learn, to concentrate, to THINK, to observe, and to have a go for themself. This book may look like a good present for a child, but it would be equally as good for anyone with an open mind and willingness to have a go, of ANY age.

This is a book that MUST be USED as well as read. You should be ticking the "Poor" (book) condition box ... unless you've been canny and have bought two or more copies.

Love it!

[Mystic Siren · Rating 5 out of 5]

completely 5 stars! just has to be 5 stars! It was a fun book to learn how to draw for beginners. It was funny and encouraging and it had a special drawing pen and a black colouring pencil and a red colouring pencil. I recommend this book for kids who want to learn how to draw as there are many things you can do and draw and funny ideas on the suggestion pile. This book is old and new edition is coming out soon..

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it. so hilarious.

[Maria Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This untalented artist enjoyed the fun of turning her doodles into cartoon animals

[Elisa Bandini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Con utili consigli per disegnare

[Maurizio Codogno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mah. Questa volta comprarmi il libro usato non è stata una grande idea. Infatti questo libro in originale ha anche tre matite, e soprattutto non è stato in parte disegnato dalla proprietaria originaria, che tra l'altro non sa fare lo spelling di "chicken". Mettiamola così: ho acquistato una versione di preview.
Dal punto di vista positivo bisogna ammettere che l'autore fa di tutto per cercare di mettere a proprio agio il lettore, che evidentemente disegnatore non è, spiegandogli che non c'è nulla di preoccupante e che i disegni a volte vengono bene e altre volte male, e il trucco è tenere quelli che vanno bene, prendendosene il merito fischiettando. Dal punto di vista negativo mi sa che i disegni dell'amico siano troppo complicati per un poveretto come me.. . Quando mi riescono è davvero a mia insaputa!
Come giudizio finale, consiglio di comprare il libro (nuovo viene sui 15-16 euro, non è la fine del mondo) a chi ha un interesse a imparare molto maggiore del mio, oppure per un ragazzo alla fine delle elementari.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Found this lovely book in the National Gallery in London when Quentin Blake's talk was held there more than ten years ago. Good for any age. To enjoy this book, what you need is playful (=artistic!) mind. I also find it very helpful for a language learner to draw and talk about the outcome. Kids love it.

[Alohadudenyc · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fun and shame-free book that celebrates drawing--for the sheer pleasure of it! a gift from the master illusrator/artist, quentin blake. love! love! love! (and who knows... maybe, someday, i'll pick up a pencil and actually try it!)

[Debbie Hoskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It's like taking a class from Quentin Blake. Buy your own copy, so you can draw in the book. I've been working on this for I don't know at least 6 years.
I felt so accomplished after I finished it.

[Tasneem Zafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meee likey lotssyyyy!!
An awesome and FUN guide to draw silly cartoons and doodles for expressing your you-ness!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heel leuk boek voor wie graag tekent (niet echt voor mij dus).

[Gabriel Benitez · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡¡¡¡¡¡GENIAL!!!!!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent for anyone who gets blocked when trying to draw.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taught me a lot!