Customer Reviews

Complete Drawing Course

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

a thorough drawing course which covers everything from objects, planet and trees, places, and people. While the book is well detailed it lacks some instruction in the basics. I wouldn't suggest a complete beginner pick this one up but a novice artist with a firm grasp on the basics will find this book usefull.

This book is just as it states - a drawing course. When I am reading this and working with it, I feel as though I have a thoughtful instructor giving me an assignment at the beginning of art class.

This feeling gives a sense of security and belonging to something. There are many diverse tasks listed to enhance drawing skills. As I complete each one I find myself saying I ought to do that again to improve. There are assignments which I would never have considered on my own. As such the book forces me out of my comfort level, and I am grateful for that.

In addition, the book offers inspiration for projects.

This book could be used as a curriculum guide for art projects for a high school drawing course. I plan to be using it for many years as I improve my drawing skills.

It's task oriented, hands-on approach is demonstrated by the quote in the foreword: "Like a language course, the success of your efforts depends upon HOW MUCH YOU PUT IN. YOU DO THE WORK."

"complete drawing course" by some entity calling itself "The Diagram Group" fails to be a "complete drawing course". The title suggests something encyclopedic, which this is not, at only 255 short pages (the book is 8 1/2" tall x 11 1/2" wide). As other reviewers observe, the book lessons prescribe a series of drawing tasks and assignments, which gives it something of a "machine-like" quality of instruction, and the printing is all in high-contrast black on white which gives the book a cold feel. Also, I'm a bit uncomfortable with "how-to" drawing books which suggest, as first projects, drawing obsure and apparently irrelevant inanimate objects (3- hole paper punches from some office desk, coffee pots, scissors, door keys, paper chinese food cartons, household steam irons etc., etc.,...) as though the person moved to draw such mundane objects was psychologically irrelevant or dull of mind.

The last 50 pages or so cover portraiture, though these drawing lessons don't look like much fun; however, there are some interesting illustrations of facial expressions, though not worthy of the term, "complete", and moreso, because this self-termed "complete" drawing course has nothing at all on Human Figure drawing, not a single page or illustration of human figure, nude or clothed, or the canon of proportion, I do not see how it can suggest itself as "complete". Furthermore, no illustration in this "complete" drawing course shows anything "moving". It's portraits are still life. It's trees and landscapes are still lifes. Regarding animation, would you expect a "complete" drawing course to include some animals? Well, don't look in this text for them, cause they ain't! So long story made short, it is NOT a "complete" drawing course, though it's got the usual instruction in landscape, perspective, lighhting & shading, artists materials, etc.
There is perhaps a singular saving grace in this text, and that is if it is purchased for the sheer volume and variety of its graphics. For example, on 2 facing pages, it shows 9 different ways of illustrating a Tree, and 5 different ways of illustrating tree bark/trunks. In fact, the pages on drawing plants and branches may be the book's saving grace. I'm happy to have it in my home library as a reference text, since it isn't too expensive. (but the graphics just might be worth $11 bucks).

If you are looking for a type of "complete drawing course" in a single book, you might look at Rudy De Reyna's "How to draw what you see." It is now in its 35th Anniversary Edition, and you may note that the word "complete" is not even in the title.

I agree with other reviewers that this book looks like a course material. For all the tasks descibed, which is basically what this book is, there is little explanation about how to do it, how to do it better, or what is the reason to do it. One thing is for sure: the more you put in, the better you draw, but this book doesn't help much if you read it by itself and by yourself. I do suspect it is designed for some course led by instructor.

This book, like most art instruction manuals, falls short for the lone artist trying to learn in isolation. All art books require an informed observer who knows how to grasp the lesson implicit in the project or process description.

Having said that, it is an excellent companion book for the student who has a competent mentor who will turn the student on to some of the basic secrets of good draughtsmanship. It is not a book for people who want inspiration for experiemental drawing. Instead it provides a strong foundation for rendering techniques. This may be a narrow area of drawing but it can, for the informed student, provide a strong foundation for observational drawing.

The most "complete" drawing book out there is "The Weatherly Guide to Animal Drawing". Even though it focuses on the animal form it provides the versatile tools necessary to figure out how to draw anything, in any position, with a sense of life, dimension, etc.,. Most books just teach you how to copy. The Weatherly guide teaches you how to draw.

Likewise, the Diagram Group book provides tools on drawing not just copying. Not many people have the stamina or the interest to learn these techniques...

I like this book for the large number of drawing exercises to refer to, but I wouldn't use it as a sole course in learning to draw. The problem is that there is little instruction to go along with the activities. Thus, the title is misleading. On the other hand, for a relative beginner who would like TONS of ideas for what to draw, this book is an excellent reference. Also it is relatively inexpensive. So if you are getting your formal instruction elsewhere, or just want some help in coming up with ideas for practice, the book is worth having around.

I had bought this book twice! The first time, I cut out pages to practice the exercises until much of the book was gone. So I decided I wanted a whole copy to use as reference for practicing more and bought it again.

Though it seems to be from the title, this is not a good introductory drawing book. Hodgson, or Right Side of the Brain, or Nikolaides are better for the pure beginner. Think of this book as a guide to tuning the eye and mind for drawing through a series of exercises that emphasize the mental skills behind the drawing process.

All different subjects are included but not exhaustively. A wide range of exercises is provided. It would be possible but tedious to go through the book exercise by exercise. More fun to do one here and there to improve one's basic drawing skills.

For that use I very highly recommend the book.

This book contains lots of great exercises but has very few indicators about how well you are doing in the exercises.

When I opened this book and read it all the way through,I certainly didn't think it should be called Complete Drawing Course. It's very lacking in the use of how to see and examine what your drawing. It's very static. For the beginning artist who is learning to draw at home with no school art training,I would not recommend this book at all. Heck even Walter Foster books are better than this.

One of the books I love is The Drawing Handbook by Frank J Lohan who takes you from the beginning in tools and composition and goes on to drawing everthing from buildings to animals.

I bought this book to teach my niece and I how to draw. We are having a lot of fun working on the lessons. The book arrived in a timely matter. I would buy from this seller again.