Sketching School

"Projects" is a misnomer. This book promises 40 "projects" and a host of other sketches and whatnot, but I can't really call the "projects" in this book by that name-they're more like sentences describing what exactly to shoot for but not how to get there. Then again, technique is not this book's forte. Rather, it strives to show the reader a variety of sketches from different artists in different mediums. I believed this book's main strength is showing us that a sketch does not have to be perfect after all. By looking through the book this fact becomes all the more solid-an essential tool in convincing the beginning artist that not everything needs to look polished to be satisfactory. I know that I will have more confidence in sketching, and what techniques I did learn will assist me, but I felt that more time could have been spent on elaborating these skills. The bottom line: Though not as heavy on the technical aspects as one would expect, this book is a great help overall to developing sketching talent.

This is not exactly a how-to book in terms of showing you step-by-step how to make marks on paper. It is about what people sketch, how and why. When I began sketching I lacked confidence simply because I wasn't sure about the correct method, amount of detail materials, etc. This book showed me the wide variety of sketching styles and that sketching is such a personal activity done for so many different reasons that there is no right or wrong way. There is of course good and bad sketching but your the style you choose is your own. No matter what medium you work or what your subject, I recommend this book as part instructional, part insprational.

I am from Stockholm, Sweden, and has been looking for a book that helps me as a textile designer to find a way to transform the ideas I have in my head and my surroundings to the textile product whatever it is. This book is the answer not only for me but for everybody that tries to find a roadmap for getting from idea to result. I must compliment the book for very nice illustrations that shows how sketching can be. It is inspiring and really helpful for your development as an artist.

This book is an excellent guide for anyone who draws and wants to keep a sketchbook. There are great examples and information that cover many techniques and themes. My only complaint is that the price is too high. On the content alone, i would give 5 stars.