The Drawing Handbook

This book explains how to draw. After you read "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" and understand that anyone who can sign their name can learn to draw, this book will help you learn. After good instruction, you are given practical exercises. Only critcism: figure drawing is mentioned in the beginning but there are no such exercises in the second half of the book.

This is an excellent starter book for learning how to draw in pen. This is the first drawing book that I have read that starts exercises using a large grid pattern which aides in maintaining the proper perspective of the sketch as you draw it. The author shows the final rendered drawing and then two sample drawings for each exercise - how to do basic outline and then individual sections of the sketch on where to put markings, shade, etc as you build up on your outline. The book covers landscape, animals, people, flowers, & buildings. Good book to have in your library.

I checked this book out at the library, and am so impressed with it's complete contents that I'm now buying it, not only for myself, but also a copy for an artist friend who is just starting out. I am a watercolorist, and drawing techniques haven't been a great deal of emphasis to me. After looking over and reading this book, I'm re-thinking that philosophy. This book covers some excellent, PRACTICAL techniques and basic coverage of composition: what is and isn't good composition, how to create a good composition, and a review of compositions past masters have used. It covers basic equipment, techniques, of geometric shapes and their application to real world objects, types of drawing tools such as pencil and ink, and their uses and styles. There are also good practical excersises. This is a good, basic book on drawing and I highly recommend it. One of the best parts, too, is it's reasonable price!