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Draw Some Awesome
Donovan brings his unique style to teaching kids (and grown-ups!) to draw. In a book that spans levels of skill, Donovan takes his readers through warm-up exercises, mark making, sketchbooks, imagination exercises, inspirational shapes, drawing animals, faces, character creation, detail, copying, perspective, thumbnails, shading, shadows, composition, making an illustration, and even drawing a unicorn. Of course he does it with humour as well as skill.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
2 people want to read
About the author
Donovan Bixley
99 books15 followersDonovan Bixley is an award-winning illustrator and book designer based in Taupo.
He has illustrated over 80 books across a broad range of genres, from his best-selling preschool books The Wheels on the Bus (2010) and Old MacDonald’s Farm (2011), to his wordless book about extreme climate change, The Weather Machine, his hybrid comic/novel Monkey Boy, and his illustrated biography Faithfully Mozart, which was a finalist in the 2006 Montana New Zealand Book Awards.
Donovan has also worked with top New Zealand authors: recreating Dashing Dog by New Zealand’s world famous Margaret Mahy; illustrating two of Barry Crump’s Pungapeople books, co-creating the internationally acclaimed Dinosaur Rescue series with Kyle Mewburn, and illustrating The Three Bears Sort Of by Yvonne Morrison, which won the coveted Children’s Choice Award at the 2014 NZ Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
When he’s not immersed in the world of picture books, Donovan plays guitar, piano and saxophone, and is front-man for Hot Tub, a 13 piece funk/jazz band. He has also been involved with the Taupo Theatre Company, both on stage and behind the scenes as a designer.
He has illustrated over 80 books across a broad range of genres, from his best-selling preschool books The Wheels on the Bus (2010) and Old MacDonald’s Farm (2011), to his wordless book about extreme climate change, The Weather Machine, his hybrid comic/novel Monkey Boy, and his illustrated biography Faithfully Mozart, which was a finalist in the 2006 Montana New Zealand Book Awards.
Donovan has also worked with top New Zealand authors: recreating Dashing Dog by New Zealand’s world famous Margaret Mahy; illustrating two of Barry Crump’s Pungapeople books, co-creating the internationally acclaimed Dinosaur Rescue series with Kyle Mewburn, and illustrating The Three Bears Sort Of by Yvonne Morrison, which won the coveted Children’s Choice Award at the 2014 NZ Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
When he’s not immersed in the world of picture books, Donovan plays guitar, piano and saxophone, and is front-man for Hot Tub, a 13 piece funk/jazz band. He has also been involved with the Taupo Theatre Company, both on stage and behind the scenes as a designer.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 19, 2021
With Leonardo da Vinci, Wolfgang Mozart and Edgar Degas to help him, Donovan Bixley packs a lot into this slim volume. While many How-to-Draw books offer page after page of step-by-step drawings for children to copy, Donovan is more concerned with unleashing the young artist's creativity.
"But I don't want you to draw like me. I want to teach you to draw like YOU!"
To this end he includes information on techniques, skills, sources of inspiration and artists' tricks such as perspective, shading, shadows and composition. This delightful book is full of Donovan's wonderful illustrations and characteristic quirkiness. He also includes plenty of more basic drawings saying:
"I couldn't draw like this when I was young, so let's turn the page and start with something everyone can do."
He also includes pictures that he drew when he was a boy to show how far he has come.
Any child with an interest in drawing will love this book and, by following Donovan's suggestions, is bound to improve their drawing. I agree with Leonardo when, on the inside cover, he says,
“I wish I’d had a book like this when I was young.”
Reviewed by Penny Guy (Bookrapt).
"But I don't want you to draw like me. I want to teach you to draw like YOU!"
To this end he includes information on techniques, skills, sources of inspiration and artists' tricks such as perspective, shading, shadows and composition. This delightful book is full of Donovan's wonderful illustrations and characteristic quirkiness. He also includes plenty of more basic drawings saying:
"I couldn't draw like this when I was young, so let's turn the page and start with something everyone can do."
He also includes pictures that he drew when he was a boy to show how far he has come.
Any child with an interest in drawing will love this book and, by following Donovan's suggestions, is bound to improve their drawing. I agree with Leonardo when, on the inside cover, he says,
“I wish I’d had a book like this when I was young.”
Reviewed by Penny Guy (Bookrapt).
March 2, 2022
We've always enjoyed Donovan Bixley's books and wonderful art. Miss 7 did indeed have an awesome time using this to draw.
Miss 7 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 7 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews