Life Drawing: A Journey to Self-Expression (Paperback)

~ Bridget Woods (Author) "Why do we want to draw the human body?..." (more)
Key Phrases: Five Star, Find the Form, Two-Hand Eye-Trust

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Life drawing is a passionate and rewarding pursuit, inspiring styles that range from photo-realistic to abstract. Life Drawing: A Journey to Self-Expression, which is filled with inspiring images and enjoyable exercises, is designed for the beginner or untutored group as well as more experienced artists and teachers. Learn how to achieve accurate proportions; use line and tone in ways that will give your drawings movement and life; deepen your awareness of body structure; experiment with different tools and textures; and develop your own visual language and style.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Crowood Press (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861265980
• ISBN-13: 978-1861265982
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #480,387 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the ultimate figure drawing book, April 28, 2004

By	reader (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

I have many, many figure drawing books and this is by far the best. It is jam packed with information and inspiration and in an amazingly short time I am thrilled with the results I am obtaining. There are loads of exercises that are interesting and fun. The nine chapters it contains are:

1 Getting Started ( Sample Exercises: observing how we see, rhythm and curve, Circling, measuring, angle finding,five star, the elastic band, negative shapes, zig-zagging)

2 Perspective and counterbalance
3 Contour, the specific outline
4 Exploring tone
5 Anatomy, the inside story
6 Marks, methods and hues
7 Movement: The body in Action
8 Altered Images
9 Personal response and self expression

As an example here is a piece from the book explaining the advantages of the 'rhythm and curve' exercise for the artist:
- He/she stops worrying that 'this drawing must be perfect because it is a long pose'.
- there is no time to worry about what their drawing looks like to others.
- the technique loosens up hand/arm/body movement, and opens up eye/brain/hand channels, and because the artist must work at speed, this stops the brain 'correcting' the drawing.
- Short poses can be more dynamic, and therefore visually stimulating.
etc. (and this is just the first exercise of many! :-D ).

I have applied the techniques and theories to subjects other than the figure and an thrilled with the lovely arty results. This is an all round super star book that is worth its weight in gold.

The book is written in a warm and very encouraging way.
This book is my life drawing 'bible'. I reccomend it to everyone, beginners to advanced, as well as to teachers who will get great mileage from its many lessons and ideas.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bridget Woods' book should be required reading for any life drawing group., September 16, 2006

By	Edward Hamilton (ME USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a figurative sculptor. I have a studio full of anatomy and life drawing books, but Bridget Woods' 'Life Drawing, A Journey To Self-Expression' does indeed stand out.
Artists that write 'how to' books, generally have their own style and the drawing you see on the cover is often pretty much what you get throughout. Turning the pages of Ms. Woods' book however shows that this artist is comfortable in a huge variety of styles, from realism, to lovely interpretations and beyond (pages 66, 62 and 134 are personal favorites).
Traditional subjects, such as anatomy and perspective, are cleverly covered, but what makes this book different is the huge range of practical advice for so many different styles, presented with such enthusiasm, in an unusual but easily understood format.
Any artist, at any level, will find inspiration and ideas in this book. It should be required reading for any life drawing group and should be on the shelves of Barnes and Noble, Borders etc., as it is superior to most of the 'how to' life drawing books found there.
Though relatively unknown in The US, Ms. Woods is I understand, a popular teacher at a variety of colleges in her native England. It is easy to see why.
I would confidently recommend this book to anyone interested in drawing the figure.
Ed Hamilton

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT!, July 16, 2007

By	Gaye E. Sekula (Converse, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What a wonderful, wonderful book! This books has everything! It covers things for the very beginner and yet offers things for the most advanced. I was very impressed that the author also included the private thoughts and doubts all artist experience and yet confidently asserts that one WILL learn and be among the very best. As a book-a-holic, I own hundreds, if not thousands of books. This is one I would save in case of a fire. BRAVA Bridget Woods, BRAVA!