Drawing with Children [Paperback]

Mona Brookes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 4, 1996

A revised and expanded tenth anniversary edition of a best-selling guide designed for parents and teachers of children of all ages presents easy-to-follow lessons for building artistic skill and for using drawing in other scholastic subjects. Simultaneous.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher; Rev Sub edition (June 4, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874778271
• ISBN-13: 978-0874778274
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

210 of 211 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unleash the Artist In You, August 24, 2004

By 

Karen E. Rice (Northeast PA in the Poconos) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Drawing with Children (Paperback)

I don't understand why some reviewers felt that this does not teach you how to draw. If you're looking for a book with a bunch of patterns to follow to draw specific subjects, then this book isn't for you. It is NOT a book to give to your child and say "Here's an art book for you." It is written for adults who will be working with children...or who want to learn how to draw themselves.

What this book teaches is a universal *method* which you can apply to *anything* you try to draw - once you learn the method and principles, you can draw anything you set your mind to!

I got this book because I homeschool, and my daughter was showing signs of artistic ability at an early age - and I barely passed art class in school. I was lucky to get Cs or Bs for grades; I had no "natural" talent (and all my art teachers only seemed to have time for the talented students - the bright stars of the class, and the rest of us just floundered) I too grew up thinking that it was a natural talent, not a developed skill. I got this book because I didn't want my daughter's art progress to be hindered by my "lack of talent."

This book lit a fire within me and I thought - can I really draw too? I remember wishing I could draw - I had great things visualized in my mind but could never get them on paper - my drawings were worse than my three year old's!

Well, this book did NOT disappoint. I have seen amazing progress in my work and believe in myself now. I have made a beatiful pencil sketch of my husband and also one of Pierce Brosnan - as well as some landscapes and still life compositions. This book only delves into the basics - I got insights on shading from some artist friends of mine...I think the more complex concepts are covered in the Drawing with Teens book by the same author.

In conclusion - if you're looking for a self-guided book to hand to your child - this is not it. If you are looking for a catalogue of drawings to mimic, this is not it.

If you secretly wished you could draw, but think you can't, or if you want to learn how to help your child draw - this is the book for you. I have had this book for three years love it. I am considering replacing it because I've used it so much it's falling apart!

95 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for teachers & homeschoolers, February 29, 2000

By 

Beth Rivera - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drawing with Children (Paperback)

I decided to teach my children art (ages 5 & 7) during their X-mas break. This book served as the curriculum. It was excellent. I xeroxed the exercises (as instructed in the book), my kids were focused during the lessons. After a total of 6 hours of instruction... they are very good drawers. They have developed their spatial awareness, which was my aim. "Drawing with Children" and its 8 basic shapes methodology is excellent for anyone who wants to teach or learn art in a school or home environment. Especially if the teacher is not a practicing artist.

103 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Back!, April 24, 2000

By 

Carol A. Klahn (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drawing with Children (Paperback)

Woo-hoo! "Drawing With Children" is back!

As an elementary art instructor, I used Mona Brookes' "Drawing With Children" with great success. My students' drawings entered a new dimension when I began to use this mimetic method of art instruction to help them identify, and then draw, what we called "drawing Legos:" the little pieces that can be combined to make a whole object.

While this method may be viewed as limiting creativity, I believe that it offers an important, foundational tool for anyone who is learning to see things as an artist sees them. Just as a pianist must learn the scales before he can play Beethoven, I believe that it is only with such an artistic foundation in place that students are able to truly express what they are trying to communicate through their art.

As a university instructor training future art teachers, I am glad to be able to pass on this gem of a book to my students, who will train a new generation of children to see as the artist sees.