Customer Reviews

Drawing Nature

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book gives the artist a special perspective from which to view and draw nature. Stanley Maltzman focuses on the basics of different seasons, weather, water, rocks, etc., but also takes the reader into specific shapes and characteristics of individual elements. For example, he shows you the differences between drawing an oak and a maple tree. This is the strength of the book over other landscape drawing books.

There are demonstrations and samples on almost every page in a variety of mediums. He even shows the student how to mock up a natural setting in the studio for practice. Having taken a class from this author, I can easily say it is like having him explain the material in person!

The author brings the skill and wisdom of 50 years of teaching to bear on his subject. This is very detailed, and richly illustrated. The publisher has given it very generous packaging and binding.

An excellent purchase.

I recommend Maltzman's other book as well.

I own several books on nature/landscape drawing, and I'd say this one is the most inadequate in almost every way. I don't mean to be critical, but there's just no way around it. Aside from a couple of sections, this book actually has almost no step-by-step instruction on how to draw something: trees, a barn in a field, for example. It just has a bunch of finished drawings. So if you're looking for actual instruction, I would look elsewhere, although this does have some good info in it. I'd get it used or check it out from the library, though.

This book is incredible. The author is helping me learn how to shadow and create additional depth to my pictures. Also, he describes the different types of tools to use. I absolutely love it!

This is an excellent art book. In fact, I took a class from a wonderful teacher a couple of years ago, and she used this book for some examples. It has beautiful detailed pictures.