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The Natural Way to Draw: A Working Plan for Art Study Paperback – February 1, 1990

by Kimon Nicolaides (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 177 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Mariner Books; unknown edition (February 1, 1990)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0395530075
  • ISBN-13: 978-0395530078
  • Product Dimensions: 1 x 7 x 9.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (177 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsWhat you may need to know.
By RJ on April 4, 2001
Format: Paperback
In order to help you decide whether or not to buy this book, I will try to make clear what the conflicting reviews mean. Actually, they are all right (in my opinion). Which side you take depends on the method of learning you prefer.
If you want a quick, "no brainer crash course" that will get you up and drawing ASAP, then use first "The (New) Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards. The exercises in that book can be completed in less than a week; by then, you should be able to draw impressive lifelike portraits.
Now, let me warn you: Ms. Edwards' book teaches you how to COPY (draw) WHAT YOU SEE just as your eyes see it. You won't learn to draw from nothing; you will need a photograph or model to work from. Simply put: you will learn to copy whatever you look at.
Now, if after that, you find yourself wanting for more-- that is, you want to learn and do more -- then get this book by Nicolaides. This is a serious instruction manual that requires a lot of your time and energy. Using it is just like being in art class. You have to follow 25 schedules amounting to 15 hours of drawing each, and in all you will use more than 60 exercises. Each chapter builds on the previous ones, so it is necessary to do all of them in order, for as long as directed. This will take 6-24 months to "finish", assuming the student draws 1-6 hours a day.
Does that sound too much for you? If so, don't feel bad. This book turned me off, too, when I first opened it. It does take a lot of work; I understand why some people are disappointed by it. But if you keep up with it, you will definitely see the results at around Schedule 13.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe very Best
By John M. Thorpe on June 28, 2000
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I reviewed this book earlier, after only a month into working with it. Now I've been at it about 7 months, which, for me, means I'm a little over 1/2 way through. I'm so thankful to have found this book at the beginning of my learning to draw. I also take a drawing class where there are live models to work from. In truth, I only take to class for the opportunity to work from a living form, because this book is my true instructor. And it is the best instruction in the art of seeing and learning that can be imagined. I compare my work with others in my class who have been working far longer and I feel sorry for them. I feel like working this book has got me moving at warp speed. I showed it to another class member and he said, "you're serious about this, aren't you?" If you really want to learn how to see and how to draw, use this book and stick to it. It will pay off. I can see a face now and truly draw it. And I can draw it almost as well if I use what I've learned from the memory exercises and draw it tommorrow.
UPDATE: 12 years later: While I have not tried to make a living with artwork, my first oil painting was accepted in a gallery show and sold. I'm still enjoying my work and am now working on a watercolor portrait series as time permits. And while I don't have alot of time for my artwork, I actually have two apprentices I'm working with and they are both doing their initial study with this book. Can't recommend it enough. Through following the work in the book, you, like me, will find your "voice" in artwork, and each time create quality, if not brilliance.
7 Comments 213 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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5.0 out of 5 starsIf you can only buy one art book, buy this!
By Cristina Acosta on August 15, 2001
Format: Paperback
The book was published posthumously in 1941 by Nicolaides' students. Their fervor for their late revered teacher is evident in the manner in which the book is written. They developed a rigorous lesson schedule which demands consistent attention of the artist.

I first read The Natural Way to Draw in 1983. In January of 1985 I began a self study course using this book as my guide. I followed every lesson plan and read and re-read until I could recite the book by heart. Too broke to afford a nude model for the lesson plans, I drew my neighbors chickens, cows, horses and sheep, supplementing those subjects with weekly attendance at a drawing group and borrowing the local science teachers human skeleton. Whatever the subject matter, Niccolaides taught me to understand the essence of gesture. A little over a year and a half later, I finished the book. I went on to earn a college degree (BFA)in Painting and to become a professional artist. When I look back at the past 18 years of my life as an artist,this book had the most influence of any that I have ever read or worked with. I highly recommend not just reading this book, but studying it. Devote a year of your life to studying this book and you will be a better artist.
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4.0 out of 5 starsIs the Natural Way the way for you?
By Robin McDonald on September 17, 2001
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Anyone preparing to undertake this book should be aware it is tremendously demanding of your time and energies. There is a minimum expectation that you will draw for three hours a day for a one year period. I have never completed the whole course but undertook it several times and managed make it through three or four months of the program with some success. This book was held in tremendous esteem by a lot of students who swore by it when I attended Cal Arts. This is in part because Cal Arts is an animation school. A lead animator needs to capture weight and gesture in a very quickly done drawing. The book teaches you to actually feel as if you are touching the object with your pencil and feel its weight and volume by means of various excercises.
Later in my drawing career I found a school that taught foundational classic illustration techniques that have been passed down for ages. We were taught life drawing techniques using the four basic tones, proportions, light and form shadow, line quality quick sketch etc. One day my teacher who is an esteemed fine artist who has also created many well known movie posters you would recognize, noticed one of the students had a copy of "The Natural Way to Draw" on her drawing bench. He picked it up and asked all the students to take a look at the book. He opened it up high and actually began mocking it. My mouth was wide open as I assumed that this book was unquestioned in the art world. As he made his way through the book showing samples of the illustrations especially in the advanced stages, many in the class were laughing out loud at the pictures. I must admit at that moment they suddenly looked rather poor to me as well. I asked him isn't there anything in this book's teaching methods you feel is worthwhile? So many people follow it.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsI cannot recommend this book highly enough

Nicolaides is to drawing as Ansel Adams is to photography. He defines the sort of work you need to put in, and you get what you put into it! Read more

Published 21 days ago by Anand
5.0 out of 5 starsgreat book

I was really surprised at how quickly it came. I have just started it and I can see that this is a comprehensive course. Read more

Published 27 days ago by C. Van Vlack
5.0 out of 5 starsA Classic

A Classic, a must learn for artist young and old.

Published 3 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsBest path to drawing out there.

I worked all the way through chapter 19. I went from not being to draw at all to being able to do the self-portrait I've posted with this review. Read more

Published 3 months ago by New Mexican Reader
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Very good condition , very informative

Published 4 months ago by nancy viviano
5.0 out of 5 starsi have not finished the course but it was very ...

i have not finished the course but it was very impactful. half way through, my life drawing sessions had marked improvement in gesture and proportions. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Tim
5.0 out of 5 starsRecommended by art prof and it is the perfect lesson ...

The Natural Way to Draw: A Working Plan for Art Study

Recommended by art prof and it is the perfect lesson plan to follow ! Arrived on time and in perfect condition. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Lisa Hill
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Excellent read!

Published 5 months ago by Booker Howze
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

It's very interesting !!!

Published 6 months ago by Prune51
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Very Google, but it toou too long to arrive.

Published 7 months ago by julieta taborda

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