Cats: How to Draw Them (Pocket Drawing) [Spiral-bound]

Melvyn Petterson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pocket Drawing | Publication Date: November 2001

Capturing the likeness of animals on paper is a rewarding challenge for any artist. Domesticated cats, our most familiar furry friends, bring forth a unique blend of trials for artists trying to replicate their features accurately. The incredible range of breeds, colors, sizes and shapes is further enhanced by the never-ending poses each can assume, from sitting and sleeping to working and fighting. Each cat is, at best, an individual, and bringing forth those special aspects of each animal's character will make any artist's drawings come to life. Artist Melvyn Petterson offers advice for capturing the essence of these animals, both young and old, pedigreed and mixed, along with tips for portraying their features accurately, drawing fur in different media, and mastering a range of poses. * A practical guide to capturing one's cat on paper, with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions * Covers all aspects of drawing cats in different media, including charcoal, graphite pencil, watercolor pencils and oil pastels * Illustrated with an inspiring collection of cat drawings that will appeal to artists and animal lovers

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Melvyn Petterson is a respected artist and printmaker. He teaches at colleges in London and specializes in charcoal landscapes and etchings. His work, including an etching of his cat Jake, has been exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts. He lives in London and Lincolnshire, England.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 96 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; First Edition edition (November 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581801971
• ISBN-13: 978-1581801972
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,445,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Comprehensive Cat Drawing Book, September 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Cats: How to Draw Them (Pocket Drawing) (Spiral-bound)

If you are a serious cat artist with training in realism, then this is a good book for you. The demonstrations presuppose prior drawing knowledge. It is the most grown-up and comprehensive cat drawing book I have ever seen. I've checked out nearly every cat drawing book still in print from my library system (including the step-by-step "Draw 50" type) and find most of them juvenile or too beginner.

I understand the negative reviews completely. Those who are self-taught or just starting out may find this book intimidating and opaque. I recommend starting with either a more general book on just drawing (Betty Edward's Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain) or a more concrete book that focuses on step-by-step drawing of specific cats (like the Draw 50 series)

If you are disappointed in this book, give it a chance. Dust it off in a few years after you have had more practice drawing and observing cats and you'll be surprised how much more helpful it is. If you are just starting out drawing and don't understand all the information, copy the drawings. Copying another person's drawings is a great way to learn how to draw. Especially a fidgety subject like cats. You'll soon be creating your own drawings from the knowledge you gained.

I recommend this book to anyone who is serious about cats. A more experienced artist will appreciate the demos, and anyone who loves cats will appreciate the drawings.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Explains How to Draw Cats by Observing Them, July 17, 2002

By 

Hairballs.com Cat Art (Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cats: How to Draw Them (Pocket Drawing) (Spiral-bound)

    The format of this book is so handy -- small & spiral bound so it remains open while working. I would have preferred the text to be larger, but then maybe I just need glasses.
    The author has done a great job of mixing interesting cat facts and fun along with detailed instructions about how to draw cats. Confusing things like proportion and distance of the eyes to nose, different shapes of heads and ears, are given new meaning that makes illustrating cats much easier.
    These are not static "draw what you see in this book" type of lessons. This author encourages you to look at your own cat while he sits, sleeps or does any of those cute cat things right in front of you, and draw with confidence.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aspects of Cats, January 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Cats: How to Draw Them (Pocket Drawing) (Spiral-bound)

I have just ordered a small cat manikin to go along with this book from Dick Blick for sketching different poses. Chapter Two Aspects of Cats is very helpful. The chapter breaks down all the features of the cat and gives detailed examples and steps as to how the face proportions should come together.