Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner, Revised: 15th Anniversary Edition
192
Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner, Revised: 15th Anniversary Edition
192eBookRevised (Revised)
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Overview
Based on author and art instructor Claire Watson Garcia's successful courses and workshops for beginning and aspiring artists, Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner applies a positive, accepting tone to a progressive series of lessons in sketching and rendering. The book's step-by-step methodology and examples of student works from earliest efforts to completed drawings give novices the tools and techniques needed to make competent and eloquent renderings of still lifes, portraits, and more. In this revised edition, Garcia covers such in-demand subject matter as drawing-on-the-go, drawing in three dimensions, and drawing the portrait at a three-quarter view. The reinvigorated art and text ensure that this drawing instruction classic will continue to appeal to new generations of aspiring artists.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780399580529 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed |
| Publication date: | 07/03/2018 |
| Sold by: | Random House |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 192 |
| File size: | 142 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
How to Use This Book
Following this book’s methods, a beginner with no previous art experience can quickly gain enough understanding of the basics to draw recognizable subjects and give them the illusion of dimension. It’s important to start at the very beginning of this learn-to-draw process to build a solid foundation in basic concepts and techniques, and also to acquire the confidence that comes from understanding the fundamentals.
The book is designed as a cumulative learning experience. Each chapter builds on skills acquired in the previous; projects become increasingly challenging while staying within reach. The book maintains a linear sequence from chapters 1 through 4, which provide the necessary preparation to take on exercises in subsequent chapters; you can then pursue the remaining chapters according to your personal interests.
Along with basic drawing techniques, I’ve also included instruction in another important skill: the ability to evaluate your drawings constructively. This will allow you to accelerate your drawing progress, learn more about yourself and your art, and challenge obstacles to learning like performance anxiety and harsh self-judgment.
The Beginners Speak
I’ve illustrated this book with drawings from beginners who completed the same assignments on which you’ll be working. It has been fascinating to see that beginners show an innate preference for certain shapes, visual contrasts, and rhythms that show up immediately in their drawings. This personal style appears without conscious effort, and is integral to each person’s approach to drawing. You too will learn how to express your own unique style in the most fulfilling way as your technical skills develop.
Approach drawing as a magical activity to do, to learn, and to see—profound, mysterious, and gratifying. Guided by the sequence of instruction and wise words from fellow beginners, you’ll have an art adventure—full of challenges, yes, but discoveries and rewards as well.
Getting Organized
Set aside time on a regular basis to exercise your artistic capacity. It doesn’t have to involve a relentless, rigid schedule, where you’ll feel guilty if you don’t abide by it. But recognize that this new part of you needs time to flourish, whenever you can find the opportunity to engage it.
Do you have a place to draw? Since the practice of art is new to you, it’s likely you’ve borrowed space in the kitchen or in a bedroom. However, to ensure that the people you live with respect your space, it’s a good idea to let them know what you’re up to and where, especially if the apple on the kitchen counter they want to eat is part of your still life!
Keep your drawings and art supplies within reach, and in one place. To protect your work, I suggest you buy an inexpensive portfolio, large enough to hold your largest sheets of paper. That way you can save your work easily for later review. If you assemble your supplies in a toolbox or even a cardboard shoe box, you can keep all of your pencils, pens, and other supplies out of sight. A card table and chair can provide you with a mobile temporary studio. Searching for the perfect work conditions can be a form of procrastination, so just remember: a drawing can begin with only a piece of paper and a pencil.
Table of Contents
Notes on the 15th Anniversary Edition 9
Introduction
Starting Out 10
How to Use This Book 12
Supply List 13
1 Seeing to Draw 15
Making the Lines 16
Exercise: Wire Drawing 16
Recording Shapes Upside Down 18
Exercise: Upside-Down Drawing 18
Seeing as an Artist 21
2 Turning Lines into Objects 25
Contour Drawing: Look Before You Leap 26
Exercise: Contour Drawing 26
Problem Solvers 28
Locating What Works 33
Your Drawing Experience Now 34
3 Adding Din-tension to Contour Drawings 39
Value Basics 40
Exercise: Making Value Scales 40
Local Values and Shadow Values 43
Exercise: Pencil Sampler 43
Identifying Shadows 45
Exercise: Applying Shadow Values to Your Drawing 46
Exercise: Adding Local Values to Your Contour Drawing 46
4 Adding Accuracy 51
Sketching for Accuracy 52
Exercise: Sketching Warm-Up 52
Exercise: Previewing 52
Exercise: Horizontal and Vertical Lines 53
Sketching Symmetrical Shapes 55
Exercise: Circles 55
Exercise: Level Ellipse 56
Exercise: Oval 56
Exercise: Cylinder 56
Exercise: Bowl 58
Underdrawings for Symmetrical Objects 59
Exercise: Bottle 59
Exercise: Lining Up 60
Exercise: Relative Size 61
Exercise: Assessing 63
Exercise: Drawing Through 63
Rectangular Subjects: Angles 64
Exercise: Angles in One-Point Perspective 64
Exercise: Angles in Two-Point Perspective 65
Sketching Asymmetrical Objects 68
Exercise: Asymmetrical Objects 68
5 Expanding Techniques: Pencil 73
Extended Value Range: 6B and 6H 74
Exercise: Pencil Sampler 74
Lost and Found Edges: Abbreviated Contour Lines 75
Creating a Pencil Study, Step by Step 78
Problem Solvers 80
Using Your Small Sketch Pad 85
6 Expanding Techniques: Wash with Pencil and Pen 89
Accenting Pencil Drawings with Wash 91
Exercise: Creating a Wash 91
Exercise: Wash Sampler 91
Exercise: Pencil Studies with Wash 93
Pen Techniques 97
Exercise: Pen Sampler 97
Accenting Pen Drawings with Wash 101
Exercise: Adding Wash to Pen 101
7 Expanding Techniques: Charcoal 105
Using Charcoal 106
Exercise: Charcoal Sampler 106
Preparing to Make a Charcoal Study 108
Creating a Charcoal Study, Step by Step 110
Protecting Your Charcoal Drawing 116
8 Drawing the Face, Frontal View 119
Studying the Frontal Face 120
Exercise: Start with Your Own Face 120
Drawing the Frontal View, Step by Step 122
Exercise: Stage One: Blocking in Proportions 122
Exercise: Stage Two, Part One: Developing Features-Underdrawing 125
Exercise: Stage Two, Part Two: Developing Features-Adding Detail 126
Exercise: Stage Three: Shaping the Face 128
Exercise: Stage Four: Adding Dimension 131
9 Drawing the Face, Profile View 139
Finding Your Model and Observing the Profile View 140
Drawing the Profile, Step by Step 141
Exercise: Stage One: Blocking in Proportions 141
Exercise: Stage Two: Developing Features 142
Exercise: Stage Three: Finishing Up 144
10 Drawing the Face, Three-Quarter View 147
Studying the Three-Quarter-View Face 148
Exercise: First Look 148
Exercise: Your Face in Three-Quarter View 148
Find Your Model 150
Drawing the Three-Quarter Face, Step by Step 151
Exercise: Stage One: Blocking in Proportions 151
Exercise: Stage Two: Developing the Near Features 153
Exercise: Stage Three: Developing the Far Features 154
Exercise: Stage Four: Adding Dimension 156
11 Expanding Techniques: Conté 161
Using Conté 163
Exercise: Conté Sampler 163
Developing a Conté Drawing 164
Exercise: Conté Drawing of Fabric 164
Exercise: Black-and-White Conté Drawing on Gray Paper 165
12 Stili Life 169
Seeing to Compose 170
Exercise: Observing Your Gaze 170
Thumbnails: Your Best Compositional Tool 172
Exercise: Thumbnails Charcoal Sketching 172
Exercise: Making Connections 178
Still Life Reminders 180
Creating a Still Life, Step by Step 182
Exercise: Still Life Preliminary 182
Additional Strategies for Improvement 184
When Are You Finished? 186
Finishing Up Your Inner Aesthetic 189
Exercise: Find Yourself in Your Art 189
Index 192