Draw 3-D (Learn to Draw) [Paperback]

Doug Dubosque (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Learn to Draw

Provides instructions for making perspective drawings.

From the publisher: To Draw or Not to Draw: a decision (not just talent):

For many (most?) people, the wonderful artistic impulse of early childhood starts to die at some point - often between the ages of 8 and 14. Sometimes earlier. Sometimes later.

We have a theory: the artistic impulse starts to die when people decide they can't draw. That's it. They DECIDE they can't draw.

At some point, most people's drawings don't look "real" enough to please them (a normal reaction). For some, that's a challenge. They try harder. Others, however (perhaps teased by that older kid on the bus about "your stupid cat drawing," or frustrated by hearing "what's THAT supposed to be?" or worse, being told they're no good), simply DECIDE they can't draw. They "can't" draw. They give up.

(What if you gave up the first time you fell off a bicycle? Or a skateboard?)

In fact, when you're little, drawing is NOT about making things look real. Drawing is about exploration, discovery...using your fingers, hands, and arms to make marks on paper (or somewhere else). The marks don't have to LOOK real. The marks ARE real.

But - the big BUT - at some point you DO want your drawings to look real.

It is for you, at that point, that we publish Draw 3-D, along with the other books in this series. In it, you'll find clear, step by step instructions. Pictures of pretty cool stuff, drawn well: pictures to inspire you. And a very good chance to succeed on your first try.

Because when you CAN draw - especially if you thought you couldn't - well, find out for yourself....

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up-Using easy-to-follow, step-by-step sketches, DuBosque introduces readers to the techniques of three-dimensional drawing. Beginning with such elementary concepts as depth, he progresses logically through shading, reflections, and multiple vanishing points. The supportive tone encourages novices to keep trying and not become discouraged. The drawings of what can go wrong and how to correct these errors are particularly helpful. Sure to be popular with budding artists of all ages, this is a good choice for any collection.
Michele Snyder, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Author

"You can draw." I've heard that a lot, since I was a kid. "You're really talented."

I have 2-point perspective drawings I did at age 5.

Was that simply talent? No, you need more than talent: you need skills (nobody's born with skills!). You need practice (you don't get practice if you don't try - and try again). And you need encouragement - otherwise you may start to believe, in a weak moment, that you "can't" draw.

The reason I could draw buildings in perspective at age 5 is that my father saw how much I loved to draw, and showed me how to draw in perspective. That was a happy match: a kid eager to learn and a father eager to teach. How could I not want to pass along the joy of learning to draw 3-D pictures?

Here's some advice that I hope will encourage you:

1) Draw easy stuff when you're "off." Draw difficult stuff when you're "on." The cartoon character you've drawn three gazillion times is easy - great to cheer you up on a rainy day. But if you want to get good, forget your cartoon character for a while. Really LOOK at something real and then draw it: your hand. Your foot. Your face in the mirror. Your mother. Your cat.

2) Don't worry about special pencils or paper if you don't already have them. DO make sure you have good light when you draw.

3) Put your name on your drawing, and the date, and keep it. The Great Unsolved Mystery of the World (IMHO) is why some drawings get better when they just sit around for a while - sometimes a year or more. Don't throw them out!

4) Have fun!

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Peel; Revised edition (September 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939217147
• ISBN-13: 978-0939217144
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Art > Fiction
  • #65 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Arts & Photography > Art > Instruction & Reference > General
  • #70 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Art > Drawing

More About the Author

"You can draw." I've heard that a lot, since I was a kid. "You have real talent."

I have 2-point perspective drawings I did at age 5.

Was that simply talent? No, you need more than talent: you need skills (nobody's born with skills!). You need practice (you don't get practice if you don't try - and try again). And you need encouragement - otherwise you may start to believe, in a weak moment, that you "can't" draw.

The reason I could draw buildings in perspective at age 5 is that my father saw how much I loved to draw, and showed me how to draw in perspective.

Here's some advice that I hope will encourage you:

1) Draw easy stuff when you're "off." Draw difficult stuff when you're "on." The cartoon character you've drawn three gazillion times is easy - great to cheer you up on a rainy day. But if you want to get good, forget your cartoon character for a while. Really LOOK at something real and then draw it: your hand. Your foot. Your face in the mirror. Your mother. Your cat.

2) Don't worry about special pencils or paper if you don't already have them. DO make sure you have good light when you draw.

3) Put your name on your drawing, and the date, and keep it. The Great Unsolved Mystery of the World (IMHO) is why some drawings get better when they just sit around for a while - sometimes a year or more. Don't throw them out!

4) Have fun!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid!, September 23, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Draw 3-D (Learn to Draw) (Paperback)

I bought three beginning drawing books for my 9 year old, and this one was his favorite (one on how to draw cartoons was a close second). The first exercise, which is to spell out your name using 3-D letters, caught his interest right away, and he's been back to the book several times on his own initiative.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for Pre-Teen and Beginning Artists, January 20, 2003

By 

Tripleguess (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Draw 3-D (Learn to Draw) (Paperback)

"DRAW 3-D" by Doug DuBosque is a friendly and painless introduction to the ABCs of perspective drawing. The text has a conversational feel and is easy to understand, using short words and simple explanations aided by 2-5 very clear illustrations (and an occasional photograph) on every single page.

I went through the whole book, practice-drawing as I read, in about a week, since it's only 63 pages and I was already familiar with some of the principles discussed thanks to the most excellent "How To Draw Comics the Marvel Way" by John Buscema & Stan Lee.

I think "DRAW 3-D" is easy enough for a kid of about 9 or older to understand most of it, and all of it if he or she has an older artist handy to explain and demonstrate (or to console and encourage, because it sure is exasperating when you forget which of those 20 straight lines goes where). It will not teach you to draw a perspective view from an object plan, or to draw a perfect square in perspective, but if you are completely new to perspective drawing and want a good introduction to the subject, this is the book for you.

Try it! If you reach the point where you don't need it anymore, and haven't become sentimentally attached to it in the meantime, it will make a great gift for anyone else interested in drawing.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When 2 Dimensions just aren't enough, July 13, 2008

By 

Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Draw 3-D (Learn to Draw) (Paperback)

This is an essential starter book for anybody who wants to learn to draw in 3 dimensions.

Draw five circles in a ring
And add a little dot
Use a ruler to connect
the edges to the spot
Chop the ends with curvy lines
Erase what you don't need
It's so easy, anyone
Can follow and succeed

Write your name or draw a box
Then draw another two,
Or three and four, and before long
Your perspective comes through
Horizons, roads, vanishing points
Interiors and out
With practice you can draw this stuff
Without a single doubt

It gets much harder at the end
But once you've grasped the rules
You'll find it takes a little time
Applying all the tools
This makes it so much easier
It has a chatty style
I think that once you try this book
You'll find it quite worthwhile


Recommended for ages 9 to just before senility.



Amanda Richards, July 13, 2008