Customer Reviews

The Pencil

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Like an old "worthless" violin that comes to life in the hands of a master musician, Paul Calle proves that the pencil, any old pencil, can be used to produce fine art in the hands of a master. I have studied his work in this excellent book, and applied his techniques with every kind of pencil from "drawing" pencils to an old stub found in the garage. Drawing is the foundation of the graphic arts, and Paul Calle raises the "lowly pencil" from a medium for quick sketches to the production of stand alone works of art.

This book is partly a text on drawing and partly a portfolio book of artist Paul Calle. Mr Calle is perhaps one of the best graphite artists in the world. His style is realism (photorealism, to be exact) so if your thing is Picasso, this might not be the text for you.

Calle traces his career from his early days in editorial illustration, through his time as a staff artist for NASA during the sixties, to his more recent work celebrating the American West. Along the way, he shares insight into technique and the realities of making a living as a commercial artist. It is perhaps the finest example of pencil illustration I have ever seen. A must for any illustration student. I can't recommend it enough.

I have purchased many drawing and art books over the years. This one is top on my list of drawing books. I would panic if I lost it! lol

Calle summed it up nicely in this book: "I think for me, if I had to state a goal ... my aim would be to help keep alive that huge reservoir of our past, to draw strength and sustenance from it, to build upon it in ways that are new and different, but not reject it." It's an old book now, yet the drawings and methods are as relevant today as any other. I'll gladly keep it as a part of my collection.

What Norman Rockwell did for oil painting, Paul Calle does for the pencil.
Beautiful illustrations, masterful text and instruction.

Paul Calle was one of the finest artists/illustrators in the past 40 years. His unique skill with a pencil was unsurpassed by any modern artist. This book is not only a brief anthology of his work but an interesting instruction method. For all serious artists I recommend this book as Paul died this past year and he is well worth studying and emulating.

Although not for a beginner, it could still be helpful. Paul Calle was an amazing illustrator, with no peer in his lifetime.

Book was listed as "Very Good". Book is yellowed and binding bent a little but the contents of the book are great. Inspirational.

The book uses a drawing technique without variation for representational drawing. It was not obvious from the limited example of just the cover of the book. I returned the book and I am waiting for my refund. There are better books available on representational drawing.