Drawing Shortcuts: Developing Quick Drawing Skills Using Today's Technology

by Jim Leggitt

The updated edition of a contemporary approach to merging traditional hand drawing methods with 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional digital visualization tools. Jim Leggitt's Drawing Shortcuts shows how communicating with hand drawings combined with digital technology can be ingeniously simple, and this new edition makes an already popular technique even better. Completely expanded with new chapters and a wealth of supporting images, this Second Edition presents practical techniques for improving drawing efficiency and effectiveness by combining traditional hand drawing methods with the latest digital technology, including 3-D modeling with SketchUp. This book's step-by-step approach will sharpen and streamline your techniques whether you draw for pleasure, school or your design profession.

Easy-to-follow instructions cover every aspect from the basics of drawing?such as composition, color, shading, hatching, and perspective?up to the most current technologies Incorporates Google SketchUp, Google Earth, computer generated renderings, digital scanners and printers Features new visuals from accomplished drawing experts Special new ?Gallery? section highlights the creative process with step-by-step examples of drawings Complete coverage of the ?Overlay and Trace Method, ? ?Simple Composite Method, ? ?Advanced Composite Method, ? and ?Digital Hybrid Drawings? New matrices show alternative drawing techniques for specific visual effects such as Linework and Shading, Selecting the Right Views, Perspectives and Paraline Drawings, Drawing Detail, Camera Lenses, and Drawing Tools

Generously enriched with detailed process drawings, examples, and more than 500 full-color images, Drawing Shortcuts, Second Edition will have you creating top-quality drawings faster and more effectively.

Genres: Architecture, Drawing, Art, Reference, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2002

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm trying to up my sketching game this year with an emphasis on urban environments and this book hits most of the areas I want to improve. Note that the 2nd edition is major revision from the 1st, this is the one you want since it covers all the current technology, albeit at an earlier phase. Since tech bits are not covered in detail, this text should stay 'current' for many more years.

Intended for architects, it concentrates on the physical art skills needed for the trade, no matter how many computers you have, you should still be able to grab a pencil and crank out a quick doodle and I don't see that changing in the near future. Various forms of sketching, perspective, color and fusion drawing techniques are covered. Also, other architects contributed drawings and in a few cases short articles, so a nice variety of graphic styles can be seen. This book would make a good textbook, not surprising, the author is a teacher, and its also a decent reference book. A tempting possibility to add to my drawing library.

[LadyS · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very top heavy and overwhelming book. I'm sure the information is helpful however a beginner like me was immediately overwhelmed

[Rie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay. So in a world where we are constantly bombarded with lots of information, tasks, and books to read on, I must say this book was...mostly, a really horribly boring one. The information it provided was really basic, the Quick Tips were more interesting and helpful, but that's it really. Lots of repeated stuff, same art style, TOO MUCH TEXT going on.

I was honestly expecting some more variety there, more interesting drawings for examples instead of looking at very similar thing on and on for the whole book. It's just. I'm like half through the book and somewhat feel that it's a waste of my time to read it in details, and I'm just skimming through the Quick Tips and bolded heading quickly. I'm not gonna say it's not helpful, but instead of dragging the page count, it could have been way more concise; pick out the important points (Quick Tips), focus on them, and give More different and intriguing drawing examples would be much better.

And I wonder how many artists out there did the author think that were using AutoCAD because I don't. It mostly applies to people for architecture design probably, and the author really should have STATED on the book cover or title to not mislead people that it covers most artists. I wouldn't have picked it up if I knew.

[rizka · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Sebenarnya membuka-buka edisi Indonesianya sih (Teknik Menggambar Cepat), softcover, tapi belum ada nih di gudrid..)

Nah, kalau ini memang buku yang dibuat oleh orang yang berkecimpung di Arsitektur. Jadi teknik menggambar cepat ini pas untuk mahasiswa Arsitek, dimana menggambar sebenarnya merupakan cara untuk mengkomunikasikan ide. Eh, sepertinya memang diperuntukan untuk mahasiswa arsitek ya? Karena mahasiswa sering ngeles, waktu tak cukup dibanding bandingkan banyaknya tugas ;p.
Didalamnya terdapat tips-tips, dilengkapi dengan gambar-gambar ilustrasi tentu saja, disertai foto-foto. Teknik-teknik mengkomunikasikan ide & desain secara cepat& praktis bisa diliat dibuku ini. Jika tipsnya ada yang tidak/ belum bisa dipraktikan, buku ini tetap cukup bagus kok untuk dibaca n dibuka-buka. Siapa tau manfaat ;p

[Semi-Academic Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome! 2010 version; 2nd edition