Customer Reviews

Drawing People: How to Portray the Clothed Figure

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a must have book for any artist. The book is like a guide for home reparis. Only the subject matter is figure, clothing, portraits, and posture of figures, eyeballs and noses, and even how to hold a pencil. An example of the excellent instruction is on how to draw a cloth fold. "Imagine ants as they follow trails over the fold. They disappear and reappear." The information is better then any class I have taken or book I have read. It is not a book just on technique, but it teaches how to see the object. Barbara Bradley shares a road map, and shell tells what signs to watch out for and what intersections can create a problem. Every artist should have this book.

Barbara Bradley's book, "Drawing People" is a completely comprehensive approach to figure drawing.
She covers every technical challenge, from physically setting-up to draw and various mediums to use, to proper figure proportions and nuances in facial and hand gestures, to portraying correct fabric texture and draping on the figure.
She not only conveys every technical aspect of learning good draughtsmanship, she speaks to the heart and soul of the artist, instructing them to form an opinion of a subject before translating it to paper.
The subtle power of her expressive poses suceeds in conveying the true essence of great figure drawing...the emotional heart of portraying a human being.
Beginners will learn from it but this book is easily an art instructors' secret weapon.
Sincerely,
Sandrah Raef Moles

As an artist and past student of Barbara, I felt this book deserves my first book review here!
I truly wished this book was made available to all of us many years ago, to be more exact I wish this book was made available to me twenty years ago. Barbara has taught alongside some of the best illustrators of her time, and has been an influence in directing some of today's best.
About her book, for so long we have made Andrew Loomis' books as our drawing textbook and deservedly so, today and finally we can all experience Barbara's teaching in her book. You will learn about drawing the figure, construction of folds over the body, OPINION, rhythm, and continuity and more, by looking at her examples and reading her book.
Basically I'm writing this book review, because people like my younger brother, for example, in another country and love to draw, should all know a drawing book like this is finally available, and shouldn't be without! I still wish I had this book sooner!

Earlier this year, Barbara Bradley was selected by a jury of 75 illustrators, art directors and educators to receive the New York Society of Illustrators' 2007 Distinguished Educator of the Arts Award. "Drawing People: How to Portray the Clothed Figure" is an organized, comprehensive collection of the lessons this outstanding teacher and former illustration department director distilled from 25 years of teaching clothed figure drawing at San Francisco's Academy of Art University. The breadth of Bradley's knowledge and understanding of drawing made this an ambitious undertaking. The result is a book densely packed with key concepts and tips for producing believable, expressive, well-drawn figures.

It is unfortunate that two of the recently posted reviews here are so bafflingly critical--especially since one is written by someone who admits he lacks the skill to draw clothed figures himself. As a working illustrator for over 20 years (Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition, The Wishing Tree, Water Beds: Sleeping In The Ocean, Octavia And Her Purple Ink Cloud, The Rainforest Grew All Around), let me assure you that "Drawing People" is a valuable resource both for beginning artists as well as for more advanced, life-long students. Contrary to the title of my review, the inspiration and skills Barbara Bradley passed on to her many students is her real legacy. Her clothed figure drawing book is a bonus--a gift to those not fortunate enough to have experienced her teaching first-hand.

So much more than just a book on drawing clothes, which I thought was the main emphasis from the title. Not so. This book is the crux of drawing at its finest. Packed with jewels and gems of information on rendering many different aspects and problems of drawing the figure. Nearly every page is of value. Topics such as "Stretch and Compression","Wraparound and Overlapping Forms", "Relationships", "Rhythm and Continuity" as well as basic essentials on structure of the figure and drawing problems an artist might encounter. I have a full library of drawing books and this is by far one of the most informative. A classroom in a book!

As a former student of Barbara's, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning to draw better. Although it could never be as informative and inspirational as actually taking her class, this book is about as close as you can get. All of her lectures are included with many fine drawing examples culled from her students' works as well as from her own portfolio. Although it only captures the barest fraction of her knowledge and talent, this book is an excellent resource for any artist, from the novice looking for direction, to the accomplished draughtsman who could maybe use a few tips and reminders.

I am an art student and this book is a text book for cloth figure drawing class. I bought this book just because it is required for my class. But after I read through it, this is really an essential book for all your cloth figure drawing. I learn a lot from this book. All details and pics to explain all different kind of folds and how to draw them and approch. Excellent!

Excellent book on the human figure with an added bonus: the treatment of clothing on the body. Usual tutorials on the humans figure show the only the anatomical details (very important, but not sufficient!). This book has additional material (movement, rhythm, folding of fabrics on the body, etc...) which I have not found in any other book on the subject. A must for every artist from intermediate to advanced. Beginners might find the explanations a little abstract, this is not only a how-to book! Learn the basics first, when you get stuck, get this book!

I see the usefulness of this book differently than some people. I don't think it the best to teach you to draw, but may be the best reference book of techniques and concepts. The author covers everything but doesn't really get into enough detail about any one subject to make this book a truly great instructional book.

The author shows off her talents with page after page of incredible drawings and sketches. I open this book as much for entertainment as for guidance. Recommended as an encyclopedia of drawing.

How to Portray the Clothed Figure is just a great all-around drawing book. It covers the real-life observations necessary to become a good artist. During and after I read the book, I could tell that my drawing skill level was improving because I was more aware of what I was doing not only instinctually, but technically as well. Barbara Bradley intelligently addresses the problem that many beginning artists face in that they tend to spend more time focusing on learning anatomy and pay little attention to how figures are drawn with clothing, which is actually more realistic.