Customer Reviews

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

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This book is for people who never drew well. It has lessons to take you from very bad drawing, to very good drawing. I was in an art class that used this as the text, and I went from very bad drawing, to very good drawing indeed. Art quality drawing, that I was proud of. If you already draw well, this could be boring. If you don't draw well, and want to, this is the best book in its class, of over 100 I have read.

I remember my first acquaintance with the two classics of drawing, "The Natural Way to Draw," (NWD) declared by the Whole Earth Catalog to be "not only the best how-to book on drawing, but the best how-to book on any subject," and "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" (DRSB).

I couldn't speak for the Nicolaïdes book, as it involved far too much effort for what would be a secondary hobby for me, and I set it aside forever. The Edwards book, however, was much more accessible and impressed me with its promise of unlocking some hidden inner talent, and I did get something out of it.

Web searches show that both books have their accolades among competent artists.

Enter Bruce R. Bain, a reviewer who has panned both books mercilessly. So I checked his reviews for what he does like and tried it: Jack Hamm's books. It turns out that I now agree with Mr. Bain: the Jack Hamm books have been far more useful to me.

Where NWD would have us do an ungodly amount of scribbling and DRSB is loaded with New Age incantations, Hamm's books have an amazing amount of examples, illustrations, techniques and concrete advice. You will not have to learn to shift into "right brain mode," which I simply call being absorbed by what you're doing, it will happen automatically. I am convinced that with the same amount of time and effort, the Hamm books will reward far better and faster than either of the other two.

DRSB now strikes me as more placebo than actual instruction. If you need a shot of confidence, if you need some magic formula to unlock your inner artist, then DRSB may well be for you. However, if you know that drawing involves skills that you, like anyone else, can learn, then there are better books out there that actually teach those skills.

A couple of the Jack Hamm books:
Drawing Scenery: Landscapes and Seascapes
Drawing the Head and Figure

I don't know why the neg reviewers on here are bowing down to The "Natural Way to Draw," like it was written by some genius guru. There's a reason "Natural Way to Draw" is listed waaay down on the Amazon rank (almost 5,000 down) compared to this book, "New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain."

I was a college art student struggling with my identity as an artist, and what field of art I wanted to get into. I lacked confidence in all aspects of my art, and this my friends helped to change my outlook and pursuit of art as a career. Before I had always been a decent artist, creating maybe one or two good pieces every once in awhile, and although it is still rare, I have much more consistency in my artwork as a whole. The only downside is I wish I would've pursued this book earlier, worked much harder, and luckily for me I have the same teacher this semester who made this a required reading in the first place. Which is exactly what I think this should be for every art student, or anyone interested in art. Betty Edwards is a flawless teacher, and the first who ever taught me anything about art worth knowing through a book. I would be honored to meet her and take a few lessons. Some chapters are hard to get through in the sense that it can be a tad bit boring, but they are all vital, and even people who are proficient artists should go through this book one more time, I know I will. And so with that I highly recommend this to all, and hope you enjoy this, and learn just as much as I have. Cheers.

I started reading this book from a paperback at my local library and I enjoyed it enough to buy it on my kindle. Although if you're really trying to improve you're artwork I suggest you get the "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Workbook" as it focuses directly on the excersises and less on science and psychology. Which is interesting but examined overly in detail in the main book and may bore some. Also, one of the first excersises calls for a bit of tracing which doesn't work on kindle, whoops!

What I need is is a solid week to let myself enjoy this book's method.

I originally read the 1st edition, and bought this highly revised edition.

One telling line from the first edition that is missing: "I would look at what I wanted to draw until 'that' happened, and then I would draw ..." Dr. Edwards describes this as the left brain-right brain shift.

Whatever.

I only know that, until it happens, my drawing style resembles stickmen. Afterwards, I think I might have a chance.

My only (personal) problem is that my own mind is time-centric, and regulated by its own internal clock.

What I really need it to take this book and sketching supplies, and find a week to learn to relax again. The following week I'll pick up the pencil and let my overactive, speaking mind have a holiday and I'll draw.

Left brain/right brain. The parlance was set three decades past. Use this book to truly see, and technique will follow.

Recommended.

Whomever was the idiot who reviewed Betty Edwards book and gave it a historical review has lessened his mind and (in my opinion) this person has only presented their one-sided view and not really afforded the critique any objectivity, and this may in fact demonstrate his or her true personality. This opinion may also be their first encounter with art history; (which as most people do know, the first view given is usually the most bias especially if other theories which contradict even the most accepted views is offered). But I digress. However, s/he is right, in one aspect, if you want art history do not use this book, but if you want to learn how to draw...kudos..knock yourself out. As for our historian, Next time you buy a "How-to" book, use it, don't abuse it. She (Betty Edwards) didn't write this book as a historian, s/he only presents that information as an aside within the lessons. As one friend of mine said (who teaches computer science) I like to teach the entire course in two weeks, and then I can get into the juicy stuff. The basics is easy, but creativity comes with experience. As for our rave reviewer: try the course buddy, you may actually like it. My personal favorite is the part in the appendix on hand-writing. I own two editions of this book: 1989, and 2001. Again, if you really want to draw realistically and you really are horrendous at it, then buy the book, save yourself the pain, and expand past landscapes. Bon ami. Bravo Zulu Betty Edwards.