How to Draw Anything

Mr. Artist tells the reader to begin with drawing landscapes. It assumes we, as beginners, already know about perspective, shading, and line. He doesn't talk about just being able to draw a circle, square or cube. He included many illustrations that (I assume) we are to trace or copy. This guy isn't a teacher. He doesn't begin with basic drawing instruction. And to add to another person's review here, he included four pages of women's DETAILED nude bodies, yet only one vague (and not nearly as explicit) image of a male body for our drawing practice. Waste of money. For experienced artists who are older teens and beyond.

I completely missed that the book contained how to draw nude pictures. It even goes as far as to suggest obtaining nude pictures to draw from. I purchased this for my upper elementary school child to learn how to draw with more detail. The description of the quality said very good.... unfortunately I would describe it as acceptable.

Boy, did I have an expectation of a good instructional book, but this book clearly fails, as there are so few illustrations and references of what features to use 1st, 2nd or 3rd

My son likes this book because its straight to the point he will be a better drawer in no time.

This book is awesome. I am a beginner and the author has put in much thought and detail into helping beginners. A must have book!

. HOW TO DRAW ANYTHING by MARK LINLEY is one of those books which unfortunately, becomes overlooked in today's market, even though the author gives away many little secrets of his drawing methodology. The author is someone who with a few simple strokes, can show us how to represent just about anything, overcoming many of the hurdles that beginners struggle with. The author surprised me initially, by beginning his book with a singular recommendation that the student use "drawing pens". However, all of the examples and exercises the author introduces can be done just as well with CHARCOAL (my favorite) or graphite pencils. The book is well illustrated, containing simple sample drawings for many of the things that stump beginners so badly. The author begins with landscape features, progresses to bridges, mountains and buildings, moves on to animals and still more landscapes, then introduces the subject of perspective. The the author fills the middle of the book with dogs, cats, squirrels, horses birds and other creatures. Finally, the author finishes up with the human figure, and includes the drawing of clothing on the body. At the end, Linley adds some cartoon illustrations. This book is currently selling for a song, and it would be a mistake for a beginning drawing student to pass it up. . .

I have been trying to learn how to draw for 10 years. I paint and do pastels and watercolors but I have a lot of trouble drawing and it shows in my work. I have bought, read and used over 20 books on drawing, Ruskin, the Keys to Drawing, and the Serria Club book of Drawing and Sketching Nature among them. I have also bought and totally went through Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (the orignial and the updated version). Many of these books are excellent; however, none are as good as How to Draw Anything. These books I have bought on drawing do not just sit on the shelf after I have read a few pages. I have gone through every one of them and I have completed drawing exercise after drawing exercise. I have learned the vocabulary of drawing and I have tried several of the exercises over and over (contour drawing for example) but still my efforts fail to turn out well. About 3 weeks ago I purchased How to Draw Anything by Mark Linley. Somehow his exercises make more sense to me. A lot of it is copying his drawings of old bridges, trees etc but these exercise actually teach the student what to look for in a landscape (or person or whatever) and make it much simpler to carry over what has been learned in the book to drawing what you see in the outdoors or in a photograph. Mr. Linley starts out with very simple drawings that are fairly easy to execute but still look good after you get finished. Your time doesn't seem wasted. He is able, in these early lessons, to get across the point of strong pen or pencil work in the foreground and a fading away of the lines to the background. He has an "easy" way to render complex forms (such as trees and bushes). Please do not get me wrong, a person rendering the world in pen and pencil Mr. Linley's way isn't going to be an Ingres when it comes to draftsmenship; however, it is a wonderful way to get going and produce very good drawings in very short order. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to draw and who is having problems either as a beginner or as an old hand at drawing but not getting the results they want. Just plow through the exercises and in a few days you will be able to see the improvement. My wife, who follows my artist endevors, was amazed at the pictures I drew using this method. If you have never tried drawing before start with this book. If you have been drawing but are somehow stuck in a rut and not getting the results you want try Mr. Linley's methods. Over the years I have tried many books when trying to learn or understand something complex and I have discovered that methods of teaching are critical in understanding the subject matter. One author just can't connect (at least with me) and another will make it seem so much simpler. It has been the same with math and other subjects. If I couldn't pick it up from one author I searched for other authors with different outlooks and teaching methods and sooner or later I find one that can actually communicate with me. Hard w

I love this book! I have never seen a book like this on drawing. After you read the first few pages you want to go and try it. I am only 14 but i think this is the best drawing book ever. I have used other drawing books but this one is the best. Get this if you are a beginner or an advanced drawer.

The book has many examples of the WRONG way to draw something and then shows you how to fix it and draw correctley. CHAPTERS IN BOOK: Landscapes Bridges Tangle with Timber (trees & bushes) Hills Buildings in Landscapes Seaside Be a good Composer Animals Sheep Cats Bright eyed and bushy tailed feathered friends People Faces Arms and Legs Cartoons Doodle Expressions Greeting Cards.