Experimental Drawing: Creative Exercises Illustrated by Old and New Masters

by Robert Kaupelis

Stimulating exercises to help beginner to advanced students push the boundaries of traditional drawing.

As with most art forms, it's best to comprehend traditional drawing techniques before you break the rules. But once you've mastered the basics, you may find that you gravitate to more abstract ways of rendering everything from still lifes to figures. However, this book is not only about avant-garde style; it is experimental in that it forces the artist out of his or her comfort zone, whatever that might be.

In this book, renowned New York University professor, Robert Kaupelis, shares the tutorials that he used with his students, offering illustrations of drawings and paintings from old masters to contemporary artists (and even some outstanding works from his students) to explain techniques.

Covering everything from creating form through contour drawings to drawing with new technology, Experimental Drawing helps you zero in on concepts and form ideas that may take your work to a new and more intriguing level. Some of the innovative exercises you'll find here  

   • Drawing models while blindfolded
   • Engaging in group drawing sessions popularized during the Dada era
   • Utilizing different drawing materials like glass, plastic, feathers, string, sponges, metal dust, and more
   • Reducing a post's brushstroke from six to one
   • Using cross-contour lines for a more abstract still life
   • Integrating a grid system on a carefully rendered scene to create an illusion of distorted space and movement
   • And much more...

This classic volume's inventive and stimulating projects will help serious artists develop their own vision and their own way to draw. Includes more than 200 spectacular drawings by old and modern masters from Michelangelo to Jasper Johns.

Genres: Art, Drawing, Nonfiction, Reference

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1980

Reviews

[Michael Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best drawing texts I have ever read. It describes and illustrates various drawing ideas, from basic contour and gesture to advanced use of photography and other means to express originality. Numerous examples from classic and modern artists show the utter diversity of just what can be considered drawing. This is a fine and useful book to expand your artistic concepts and to get you out of your rut.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best creative drawing textbooks I have read. Great exercises for breaking out of a rut or for fully exploring a subject or theme. Highly recommended!

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tested this one in the college classroom. Many of my most successful assignments came from this book. Excellent for pushing students out of the ruts of their preconceived ideas.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that just whets your appetite for going and experimenting with drawing using many different types of media and style.

No style is wrong, no experiment is wrong, it's all about learning what works for you and how to get the result you are trying to achieve.

If drawing with your eyes shut, or drawing by touch, or drawing something, cutting it up and pasting back together in another way intrigue you then this book will be worth reading. There are some stunning examples by students of the author plus a lot of pictures of drawings done by masters of years past.

[Elizabeth Matthews]

Dynamic ideas for drawing projects.

[Dariyn Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

not a book for a beginner....full of ideas for an artist to try to open up the imaginative doorways

[Jakeyfatdog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for those with some drawing experience. I have skim read it all, now it will take some time to go back to do all the exercises.

[Johnzel Babijes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this for my Art to help me with my folio and I have to admit this is actually a really good and useful book. This has so many marvelous drawings and illustrations and even unique techniques!