Observational Sketching: How to Draw Almost Any Object

by Mariko Higaki

Learn to draw by sketching what surrounds you everyday. In Observational Sketching, author Mariko Higaki—an ISDA Gold Award–winning industrial designer based in Japan—teaches you how to practice and learn to sketch by using well-established observational techniques.

Perspective, proportion, lines, shapes, shading, and many other techniques can be learned through everyday practice and observation of the items you come in contact with everyday, from a backpack to your sunglasses. This book addresses how to approach sketching a range of shapes and materials and how to disassemble each object to accurately capture its unique design elements. Inspiration and examples from the author and other well-known artists accompany a variety of projects that you can try right away and skill-building projects that will strengthen your talent. Find within:
An introduction to observational sketching
The basic concepts and tools used in observational sketching
Observation techniques
Illustrated step-by-step instructions for creating observational sketches of 20 common objects, from a alarm clock to a wooden stool 
Hone your artistic skills with this daily sketching practice. Whether you are an urban sketcher or an industrial designer, this books should be part of your reference collection.

Genres: Nonfiction, Drawing, Art

128 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2020

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This book is fantastically detailed all the way through and gives fantastic step by step instructions as well as tips.
I loved how it introduced the artists and gave information about each of them at the beginning.
I cant wait to have a go at afew of these sketches.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Observational Sketching by Mariko Higaki

Words that came to mind as I read this book:
* Observation
* Uniqueness
* Story
* Technical
* Technique
* Meditative
* Immersive
* Mindfulness
* Illustrative
* Sharing

Each of the words above were thought of as I looked at the sketches included in the book that were used as illustrations of what observational sketching and drawing are. It seems that there is a hashtag for this type of drawing and that it is more than plunking yourself down to sketch an object. In fact, it is a study of the object that includes everything about the object: materials made from, story of the object from creation to it becoming trash, all aspects of the object – even the minutiae, how it can and does change and more.

The book includes information about basic sketching but my takeaway was that this is a book that makes drawing and sketching a type of storytelling...when you look at an observational sketch you see its essence and perhaps the soul of the person doing the sketching, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Rockport Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Observational Sketching: How to Draw Almost Any Object' by Mariko Higaki is a book about an art technique that draws everyday objects.

Industrial design drawing is something I've always liked, but never considered doing it for fun. Methods and techniques are discussed as well as focusing on how things are made and the materials they are made out of.

There are examples, but basically the same ones over and over. I would have liked a bit more technique and a little less of a showcase of the author's art. The author is quite good at observational sketching.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Rockport Publishing, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Alicia Bayer]

I can't give a star rating to this book as I seem to have been given an ARC that's quite unfinished. Entire pages are blank. Others have sketches and lines where I assume text will go. I am guessing that this needed to be translated and much of that is not done. THAT SAID, the illustrations seem to be finished and those are quite technical. This is clearly a book for advanced artists looking to hone their technique, not beginning sketchers. Higaki's finished sketches are impressive. Simple objects like a jar of Vaseline are perfectly drawn with great detail. He seems to go over the basics about things like perspective and he also apparently asks questions like to consider the materials of the object (without the text, all I can see is this command in bold and no discussion or instruction).

Very detailed examples are given of ordinary objects he has drawn with great detail (a LEGO minifigure, a leather couch, a beauty product, a pair of sunglasses, a label maker...). These almost look like architectural plans, and some sketches show things as if they were taken apart in order to understand how to draw them better. Again, without text it's hard to know context.

NetGalley and the publisher provided a temporary digital ARC for the purpose of review.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the cover of this book the moment I saw it on NetGalley. I have a thing for drawing or doodling objects and this felt like my thing, of course I requested it right away. What this book had to offer was not what I thought it would be, my biggest surprise came at the end of it tho, but lets go back to the beginning.

The book has four chapters. First one is called “The Appeal of Observational Sketching” and it shows 5 examples of sketches by different artists. Chapter two, “Fundamentals of Sketching You Can Use Right Away” has a lot of useful drawing instruction from how your body position can help you create straight lines, all the way to render shapes and materials. It gives just what you need to get started. Chapter 3, “How to Observe” uses different objects as case examples to understand plastic, glass, wood and fabric. Chapter 4, “Let’s Do Some Observational Sketching!” takes you step by step of the process and then shows you tons of different sketches to provide you with inspiration and ideas you can apply to your own drawings.

So this wasn’t a “how to draw” book per se, even if it does have a lot of useful instructions, specially about perspective and materials. This is all about observing the objects around you, those everyday gizmos we don’t even notice anymore, and look at them with curiosity and renewed appreciation. That’s the forte of this book. It inspires you and entices you to observe and truly get to know the object you have in front of you.

I had no idea that “Observational sketching” was a thing!. While searching the tag in english didn’t bring me with many results, searching in japanese: #観察スケッチ showed me a lot of wonderful drawings. People sharing part of their everyday life, their everyday objects, from a new perspective. It’s somehow like Urban Sketching, but instead of a scene, you focus on a single object.

Mariko Higaki is a product designer, so it makes sense that this book appears to be more like something meant for an industrial design student rather than the art hobbyist. This couldn’t be more wrong. I believe the objective of this book is not to create precise or beautiful sketches, but to teach us a different, more mindful way to see the world around us.

"If we pretend to be Sherlock Holmes and observe these objects diligently, we start to understand the thoughts and intentions that went into them, and we can imagine the various steps involved in their creation. We start to notice special things about them for the first time. I hope this book will help you communicate the joys you find in your everyday surroundings"
– Mariko Higaki, Observational Sketching

I really loved the inspirational examples given in the first chapter, however, I would have liked to see different styles, some loose sketching perhaps. Showing different approaches, techniques and styles could make it more appealing and less daunting to beginners. In the conclusion section of this book, Mariko Higaki confirms that this is just one way to approach observational sketching and invites us to find our own style and share our sketches with others.

What a wonderful idea this is. Would be happy to see this trend grow and reach people all over the world!. Now, even more than ever, we need this kind of mindset. Sharing bits of our world and becoming mindful about the ecological impact objects have as well as showing appreciation for those who created them, seems very fitting during these times of quarantine.

[Apolishedreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't quite what I was expecting. I am a detailed sketcher because I have a hard time not focusing on every detail, so this book felt familiar. However, I think most people think of "sketching" as a looser way of drawing, which is what I was anticipating. A way to quickly get draw an every day object. This book focuses a lot on the structure of an item and getting your sketches to technically reflect the item you are drawing, It feels like it was written by an architect, which isn't a bad thing! Just not what I was expecting.
I should have expected the content to reflect the cover, but I didn't anticipate to have it be so much of the content. Generally, what I observe is the whole area and this seemed to concentrate on singular objects.
A good book for people looking for help on structural sketching and learning perspective.

[Lael Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Observational Sketching is like a cross between a naturalist and an engineer. It shows how to draw everyday man-made objects in the style of a naturalist with the curiosity of an engineer in reverse-engineering the object. The drawings and the idea itself are very interesting, however, the book spends too much time detailing specific items IMO, when the idea seems to be that the artist should be out there looking (and taking apart) their own finds. I did like a number of the beginning exercises which seem like they could easily be used as a warm up for drawing 7/10

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I requested an advanced reading copy of this book, I honestly thought that Observational Sketching was as simple as ‘see an item that interests you, then draw the item’. After reading this book I now realize how in depth and intricate Observational Sketching truly is.

I enjoyed the different perspectives provided by various artists at the beginning of the book. It was interesting to hear how they approach projects, the mediums they prefer to use when sketching, and how long they have been sketching.

The breadth and depth of knowledge the author provides about the materials used to create products, the processes used to create the materials, the multitude of angles you should use to view each project, the different angles, and tools used during sketching, the thought processes used before and during a sketch is inspiring. I took my time reading this book and completed all the basic skill exercises provided, I believe with time and a lot of practice I would eventually be capable of drawing an ellipse (currently I cannot).

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to learn about or begin Observational Sketching, I don’t think you will find a more comprehensive book out there.

#ObservationalSketching #NetGalley

[Weronika Elżbieta Falińska]

The book was an interesting useful volume yet I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners. The informations presented would suit better somebody who has already gained basic education regarding drawing. I also think the book would suit better designers and engineers rather than fine art artist.
I loved the design and sketches included in a book and I would recommend it as a gift for a friend interested in art.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely interesting book, far beyond my learning goals (copying line-drawings of simple objects for kicks), but very intricate and details explanations.

[Rachael M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needs more emphasis on how to draw with techniques. The art is gorgeous but I feel like it said the same thing over and over. Maybe they need a better translator? 😅

[Flora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never heard of observational sketching before and so found this book very interesting. As an art journaler, it's made me more aware of just how much I actually observe when I'm sketching.

This is not a step-by-step instructional book by any means. But it was quite fun to see how the author develop each of his drawings.

Thank you Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Rockport Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest review.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is good book to learn the basics of sketching everyday objects. It teaches you how to observe the light and shadows and shapes of the items around you and how to translate that into a realistic drawing, breaking it down step by step, using everyday items such as backpacks and coffee cups, to more detailed projects like sketching a remote control or an alarm clock. This is a fairly short book with a lot of detail, sure to make you want to try your hand at sketching the items around you or at least taking notice of the complexity of what your eye is seeing.
Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful short volume by the Japanese industrial designer Mariko Higaki. Don't be fooled by the brevity though, because - as the saying goes - a picture is worth a thousand words. And the beautiful explanatory drawings dig below the surface of everyday objects. Layer by layer, you're invited to not only think about these objects in a new way, you're also given the skills to do your own observational practice.

In other words, a short book that can open up for a long look at the things around us. And in doing that, Mariko Higaki shares her tried-and-tested tools and techniques for observational sketching. If you like drawing, I expect you'll like this book.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please see my review under C. Wong on Amazon.com. Thank you.

[Agnes Preszler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book as it make the reader to look at ordinary everyday objects with a new eye, as ingegnieur and as artist, too. Taking them apart, analizing forms, material, the fabbrication process, Some has been formed through centuries, some are modern inventions, anyway they are formulated for the customer comodity. It is a refreshing look, to try out.

[Marcy Graybill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book was sent to me by Netgalley for my honest opinion.
I didn't like this book as much as I hoped to. I realize it's a how-to book, but it lacked a flow or a feeling? It's got a lot of good tips, but it seemed to be missing something for me. I'm not sure how to describe it. It's not a book that I would refer back to. Some art books, you want to look at again and again because it is just a wonderful book, pretty and informational. I just didn't get that from this book. #ObservationalSketching #NetGalley

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Observational Sketching is an extremely detailed book on drawing. The author provides a very useful explanation of perspective with lots of examples. Then the book continues to elaborate sketches of everyday objects that are way beyond my level.

I think this book is perfect for the advanced artist. Step by step instructions is provided. However, I do not possess the skills to be able to follow them and have good results. After the explanation of perspective, I don’t think this book is a good fit for beginners.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Observational Sketching: How to Draw Almost Any Object is a tutorial art & technique guide by Mariko Higaki. Originally released in Japanese in 2019, this English translation from Quarto on their Rockport imprint is due out 7th Jan 2020. It's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The style is technical, almost isometric (see cover). The author includes a number of short essays from other technical artists and engineers on various aspects of observational sketching such as product design and packaging design. I found the design process very interesting and enlightening. These include a Q&A format on the artistic process, the artists development and careers, and other information about how to actually get what one sees onto the paper in a recognizable form.

The chapters are arranged thematically: What observational sketching is (and what's the appeal), basic tutorials and techniques which anyone can use right away, how to observe and render different surfaces (such as metals, plastics, etc), and the step by step specific tutorials.

I find the style very appealing (then again, I'm an engineer and pretty much anything I need to draw on a daily basis -needs- to be pared down and technical). I found a number of really good tips for rendering drawings which actually look like what I'm aiming for.

Lots of worthwhile tutorial information here.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected. However, it was very interesting to look at. I’m not sure I really learned much about actually drawing that was helpful but it does have a great deal of information concerning how to be more observant in looking closely at the details of an object. I believe it could be helpful in the aspect of seeing or having detailed observations on a given object that may prove useful for artist that already has well developed drawing skills. I’m not sure this would be helpful to someone trying to learn to draw. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this observational sketching book. I liked the different styles of the different sketchers and the deep research about how each ordinary piece that they sketched is actually manufactured. The book has a simple but relatively comprehensive tutorial on how to sketch basic objects, focusing on perspective, shapes and breaking things down. It then proceeds to give examples of sketches done for each simple object from multiple perspectives.

It's not really an instructional book and it's not pure eye candy either. I'd say it sits somewhere in the middle. There is a lot of detail in each sketch, showing the smallest pieces of each item.

If you're interested in sketching, especially everyday ordinary objects, you will like this one.

with gratitude to netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to improve your sketching and want a different outlook, this book will certainly focus your drawing and show another side of everyday items, adverts engineering and sharing your work.
It is an interesting concept.

[The Suburban Eclectic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Observational Sketching may be more for the intermediate or advanced as I did not find it particularly engaging for beginners eager to get started. It is a beautifully designed work, but I found the vast amounts of detail in the background reference material less so. While I see the importance of learning about material composite, the bridge between concept to the sketching process was less clear. For example, referencing the heat resistance of glass is interesting but it does not explain how to draw said glass, but pointing out the tapering and thickness does contribute to actual sketching. Nonetheless, the basic shapes and shading was very informative and may be worth the price for some readers. Still, a bit too tedious for my tastes.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has amazing details that show the observation process step by step as well as the fundamentals of sketching. I especially enjoyed the range of objects that the author selected to exhibit in the book. It is always great to see someone's thought process when developing a new skill. This book is just simply beautiful visually and is executed with amazing attention to detail. I could study this book for hours and see new things each time I reference it.