How to Draw What You See

I'm an instructor for digital art online and find this book to be a MUST for ANY artist. It has lots of illustrations and simple, well-written explanations! I would recommend it to any of my students who want to know theory and application, from perspective to tones and shading. Everything is in black and white, so you can really see the tonal changes in the renderings.

This book was originally published in 1970 and I have used it for years, together with Drawing on the Rigt Side of the Brain, as the basis of the various drawing courses I have taught. It covers the basics of drawing very well and if a non-drawing person follows it faithfully, they will learn to draw. I actually did not mean to buy another copy but mine is quite dog-earred, so guess I will keep the new one. sherry schnepfe

This book has been extremely helpful in honing my artistic skills. If you have a true passion for art, and can't afford the formalized training, this book is ideal for you. The author has a unique ability to effectively instruct the reader. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has a desire to perfect his or her drawing skills. If you're a begginer, this book can't be beat.

"How to draw what you see" by Rudy De Reyna

I think many students of drawing look for a single book that covers just about the entire scope of drawing. This book is that kind of book. Most books that claim to be a "COMPLETE DRAWING COURSE" do not deliver on the boast. This book makes no boast, but it is the most COMPLETE book giving an overview of all aspects of drawing. This book is very good. It's as close to COMPLETE as you can get.

This book is now into its 35th Anniversary Edition printing, and is one of the longest selling books on the market. It is one of the best general references on TECHNIQUES & MATERIALS.

The figure drawing section is well developed and good for the beginner. The book covers Still Life, Landscape, Perspective and Composition, Lighting, and Materials and various strokes/charcoal, pencil, etc.

The foundation of the methodology in this book is its use of geometrical shapes (cones, cubes, triangles), reminiscent of Luca Cambiosa in the 16th Century. So the author is invested in what is called "the CLASSICAL TRADITION".

The book moves on to more advanced drawing/painting with Wash, Opaque, Acrylics and Ink. It's a good buy at this price, and a welcome addition to the artists shelf. [But if you're into Figure Drawing, also see books by Jack Hamm, and also ***"ART OF DRAWING THE HUMAN BODY"*** by Edgar Loy Fankbonner, "Art of Drawing" -Willy Pogany, "How to Draw The Human Figure" -Famous Artists School, and "The Figure" -Walt Reed] Any of these figure drawing books, combined with "HOW TO DRAW WHAT YOU SEE" makes for an excellent combination in the home library.

This is an outstanding introduction to drawing with exercises along with the text. It is like a course with the lab included. Starts with the basics. If you actually do the exercises, it's a lot of work but well worth it. By beginning one's drawing with this book, one can easily understand any others on the subject. It's a perfect - Drawing 101 - course.
EM