Customer Reviews

Perspective for Artists (Dover Art Instruction)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is unquestionably one of the most complete books on artistic perspective available. Though originally published in 1921, the information contained in this book is as relevant today (Feb. 2000) as it was then. It includes 278 pages of text, exceptional drawings, and clear explanations on topics such as inclined planes, turrets, domes, arches, steeples, the perspective of the sky and the sea, boats, pavements, etc. This is a serious book for serious students, and clearly, it is a book to own. Highly recommended.

A simple yet refined book of an old world craft.To date there is no other book avaible that incapulates the fundimentals in an orderly fashion.I personally recommend this book to students of any art field.The jargon is easy to absorb and translate.Know a good book when you see one!

This book has been a great source of information to me for years Although I have not read all the books available it is hard for me to think anyone has come up with a better or simpler way to explain this critical subject of prospective. How many artist I have met while teaching, that have struggled with trying to produce a professional drawing because they did not devote the time to read this book and practice what it teaches. Buy it and use it if you are serious about art.

This is an excellent book on the subject of perspective. My paintings improved dramatically after I practiced many of the techniques. I find this particular book indispensable.

The reason I give this book only 4 stars is because I agree with some of the posts here: The language is arcane; the book was published way back in 1921 London. Even with my advanced degree in a technical subject, I did get stuck on a few of the instructions/self-imposed exercises. This frustrated me, because I really wanted to master those particular subjects, and I had no one to go to for further explanation.

Still, I know much, much more now than I did before I bought it and worked my way through it. And you may not have any problems at all. This book is a few dollars well spent for any artist's library, as are many of the very affordably priced Dover Art books.

May God rest Rex Vicat Cole's soul (I assume he is long deceased). This voice from the past has helped me with my art and helped me appreciate others' art. And if you are a realist-landscape painter, see also his "Artistic Anatomy of Trees."

I purchased this book as a reference, but after getting it in my
hands, I found it engrossing cover to cover. I would never have
guessed that a book on a subject like perspective could draw the
reader in like this one does. Mr. Cole had a nice way of including
the reader in a way that makes you feel like he's present. I had
no experience with perspective before this book, but now I can draw
realistic arbitrary items with confidence. It has helped my
portrait drawing as well. A must-have for any artists library.

I have read 7+ books on perspective and I believe the thouroughness of this book and its explanations make it the one book you could use above any other. It is comparable to G. A. Storey's book but is easier to understand and it fills in the gaps that other books take the reader's knowledge for granted. I would, however, suggest reading multiple books on perspective because many will explain certain things that others will take for granted and vis versa.

I have found this book to be extremely valuable, as it is the only book I have come accross which teaches perspective as a thoery, and not just something you will eventually get the hang of through imitation and a few basic tips. Perhaps my searching skills are lacking, but as far as I know this book is unique among perspective books that are still in print.

The subject is treated in a more technical manner than most contemporary books on drawing, so it is understandable that a few reviewers would criticize it for being "complicated". But its treatment of the subject is not particularly difficult. In fact a basic course in Euclidean Geometry would certainly take more thought and reflection than is needed to study this book.

If you have a basic understanding of 2 point (or maybe even 1 point) perspective, this book will help you build and expand upon that. It offers "laws" of perspective and tons of examples of how those laws work and apply in art. This book is great.

This book leans large tword the details of how and why. It's an updated copy of an old original text. The style of writing proves this out. Never-the-less the information is current and true. I found this book to be a great help after I decided I needed to really understand perspection on a higher level.

I love this book. Its a bit beyond "Learn to Draw 3D" But if your are serious about perspective then this is the definitive book in my opinion. I wish the publisher had printed it in a bigger format.