Perspective Without Pain (Paperback)

by Phil Metzger (Author) "If you're like most painters, you probably work hard at trying to make a flat surface appear to have depth..." (more)
Key Phrases: third vanishing point, eye level line, perspective center (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (March 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891344462
• ISBN-13: 978-0891344469
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,704 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #5 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Conceptual
  #33 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Reference
  #35 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Instructional & How-To > Drawing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST text on perspective for the beginner ... period., November 13, 2001

By	Burton Houck (East Coast) - See all my reviews

I'm trying to return to drawing and (eventually) painting after not so much as picking up a pencil in 12 or 13 years. When I started, I read every review of every book I could find on the different subjects (basic 'seeing', basic drawing, landscapes, figure drawing, portraits, and perspective) and browsed libraries in five different counties here in NC. The list I came up with for basic texts in each subject area included 'Perspective Without Pain' and I have not been disappointed. For a relative beginner, this book is the most user-friendly manual out there in which all aspects of classic perspective is covered. What makes it especially awesome is actual user exercises to reinforce what you read. I absolutely HAVE TO HAVE exercises along with text (I'm not the brightest light in the hallway) and this book includes excellent reinforcing material. If you can find this in a library, take a quick look before you buy. For us beginners it is, in my humble opinion, perfect.

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic guide to one of the toughest problems for artists, October 22, 1999

By	Casey Lewis (England) - See all my reviews

As a beginning artist this book was heaven sent. One of the toughest things to learn is how to draw to make things appear to have perspective and this book takes you through a step by step process geared toward all levels of drawing. The beginner is comfortable right away with this daunting subject and the advanced student hones his skills through the study of the later chapters. It is a must for the beginner and the advanced artist alike.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perspective book written predominantly for artists..., November 27, 2000

By	"weltschmerz" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This book was written with the express purpose of instructing the artist about the concepts of perspective. I've yet to encounter any object (apart from some lines for illustrative purposes, such as those leading into the vanishing points) that wasn't drawn in freehand. It seems that eyeballing (ie. approximating and estimating) the perspective applications, are the order of the day.

Like its namesake, it lives up to it by taking the reader step-by-step into the fundamental and intermediate aspects of perspecting drawing in regards to landscape and interior drawings (although this would, of course, apply to other perspective related instances). As such, it is one of my favourite books on the subject matter.

Highly recommended for artists, although engineers and architects might look elsewhere for more precise methods than those employed in the book.