Keys to Drawing

If you could buy only one learn to draw book, buy this one! It will revolutionise how you draw. Having always loved art, I went through 3/4 of my life believing I was crap and that I couldn't draw. This will give you the confidence to realise that like anything, drawing is a skill that needs practising and (b) you shouldn't care what anyone else thinks. And most importantly, anyone can draw, given the right instruction and given confidence. I like how in part of the book, you see student examples of a hand and realise when you have a go, you are up there with them in creating a nice first ever and achievable drawing of your own hand. I really love the idea of learning to draw the outline of things and leaving the mistakes in as part of the process of capturing what you want to draw. Money well spent! I don't care if no one likes my drawings. The point is that I love them and this book gave me the confidence to accept my own work and be happy with my standard. And for the bad reviewers, maybe it's not everyone's style. I love pen and ink and sketchy watercolour paintings. I drew one of these with a stick from the garden. I like to see all my mistakes. It's about progression and learning to sketch before moving on the the bigger stuff. This book teaches you the foundations or keys to drawing. It teaches you how to develop your own style or handwriting. If you want a quick drawing program that teaches you how to copy someone else's style rather than loosening your hand up, creating your own handwriting or just giving you confidence, maybe look else where. The problem with many other books is when you realise you cannot aspire to being as good as the artist that produces them because you just haven't been taught all the skills or these book skip vital drawing skills. Additionally you have to keep practicing. These artists have been doing art for years. This book does not skip those steps! Good luck.

I've always envied people who can draw well. I don't necessarily want to draw fantastically, but have wanted to be able to sketch a little better than my three year old. So I bought myself a small tin of pencils and this book (on Kindle). And, it has worked. I'm really quite pleasantly surprised. Instant results. Within a few days of starting, I drew a cork screw. And, it looks like a cork screw! Shading, highlights etc. A couple of weeks later I've drawn pictures of my son, that people could actually recognise it as a drawing of him. The book is pleasantly, conversationally written, and will discuss the the theory quite simply and then ask you to undertake an exercise with instructions. You start of drawing your feet, then hands, 1 minute sketches, then bottles, objects and people. After looking at different styles of sketching employed by different artists, it encourages you to find your own style. It works by outlining the 'keys' to drawing. Little golden snippets, that you build upon as you progress. How to hold the pencil. Draw the outline. Draw enclosed shapes. Measure with pencil. Sight lines etc etc. It's all about how you look at and study things really. Quite simply. If you want to learn to draw, or improve your drawing. This is a great book, and I can fully understand why it's so popular.

I have recently taken up drawing again but have never really had any formal instruction so have previously felt a bit lost about where to start building up my skills. Some other (older) books that I have read have over-complicated things and implied that only the talented few can become good at drawing - this book is the exact opposite, it uses a principle that anyone can make progress given the right tools, because everyone has the ability to interpret the world around them accurately. The chapters in this book contain a huge amount of useful information that is explained well, and the inclusion of regular practical exercises makes sure that you digest and make sense of the advice given. The exercises are specific in their aims and focus very much on the learning and evaluation process rather than the quality of the final picture - which definitely takes the pressure off! I have tried the first three already and look forward to having a go at the rest. All in all - great book, and something that know I will be using as a reference for years to come.

An excellent book on how to learn to draw, it covers all the relevant points & gives many clues as to how to proceed with your drawing. Only gave it 4 stars because although it is full of drawing examples, none of the drawings were very inspiring but it is one of the best learn to draw books out there with a no nonsense direct approach.

I started drawing last year as a challenge to myself of learning a new skill and finding a new hobby. I had been following videos online but didn't feel like they gave me a structured way of learning. This book is brilliant so far. It brings the enjoyment back as the excercises are short and the example drawings don't make you feel inadequate in your own ability. It teaches you some really important techniques from the beginning. One of the critical points early on in the book is that you need to look at the subject you are drawing more than your paper. Also, it teaches you to stop erasing mistakes, but restate instead. You can see yourself improving with this book and it drives you to continue. You feel like the author really wants you to succeed and revel in the magic of drawing. Love the author's note at the back too.

This is a great book very informative and helpful. It's set out in a clear straight forward way, there are step by step series of exercises to do but you can also dip in and out. I have Bert Dodson's other book Drawing from the Imagination which is also excellent. I have enjoyed learning from these books - its like having your own great Master to teach you anytime that you want to learn more. I often incorporate ideas learnt from these books when I am teaching drawing to other artists and they find them very helpful.

I searched the web for "how to draw, for beginners" and this book was on everybody’s top lists, so I bought it. I thought that there was going to be step by step tutorials on how to draw, but its not. I don’t even know what this book is all about. For me as a beginner, it didn’t give me anything at all. Waste of money!"

It was everything I needed. It explains things clearly, and is easy to follow. It has definitely improved my drawing skills.

Great learning tool

対象物との視点の位置から、始まり自分の靴、人物・静物・日常の生活物 巨匠のコピー（マティス・ゴッホ・ドガ・モランディ・コルビッツ） 各種のペンでの表現の違い、人物の顔の比率から全身の比率 パース・テクスティアの違い、パターンとデザイン、フレーミング 画面でのバランスと形、ドローイングの基礎が223ページで掲載されている。

Buona guida per disegno spontaneo. Con molto esercizio e un po' di lettura di possono ottenere risultati notevoli. Consigliato. Una piccola nota, l'edizione inglese é molto migliore per qualitá di stampa di quella italiana (abbastanza scadente).