Learning to Draw (Three Great Teachers)

It is no doubt that we learn to draw by drawing. more often we hit a plateau and find it hard to jump up to the next level. Over the years I have been reading, and tyring to learn from various texts and references on how to draw. while there is always something to learn from every book, there are certain books from great teachers, which will always take one to the next level. I list three such authors here, who I guarantee will make an impact.

(1) The Natural Way to Draw by Kimon Nicolaides


This book would create an impact, no matter at what level one is in their drawing ability. After a long period of lull this created a storm in my artistic endeavor. It is a great place to begin, since it teaches the foundation of art, how one should approach drawing, what is it you draw, what is it that you strive to capture, what is it that you create. Using the simplest of the tools - a scribble, one begins to draw. everybody can scribble. and that's all you need to begin learning how to draw. Gesture, weight and modelling are three fundamental aspects that can be captured by deep observation, and just scribbling. and by practicing this, you can draw anything and everything that you see and over a period of time just from your mind!




(2) Vilppu Drawing Manual by Glenn Vilppu

In a series of chapters , one building on top of the other, Vilppu teaches every aspect of drawing, and introduces the basic tools needed to draw. Vilppu says, drawing is all about capturing gesture and form. Representing 3 dimensional form in two dimensional paper. drawing is all about capturing and creating form, the relations between other forms. How you go about doing this, is all that Vilppu talks about with countless illustrations. Gesture, Form, Light and shade,Atmosphere and so on are different aspects that make the picture more and more convincing. Vilppu introduces simple tools such as Sphere, Box, Cylinder and combine them to create complex forms. these are techniques that come down from the great masters of the renaissance.

(3) Figure Drawing books by Burne Hogarth

At this stage we understand how to go about drawing. mostly we become good at drawing from observation. and possibly retain some knowledge and recreate from the mind.

But if one were to understand the details of the complex human figure, one need to study the wonderful books from Hogarth. Nowhere else one can find such clear renderings of the human form, so easy to understand and hence so easy to add to our mental library of reference. Hogarth analysis the human form in such detail and clarity, all it takes is one look.

By studying the numerous drawings and constantly practicing them, and creating our own actions and figures, one can produce stunningly realistic human figures.

And then of course we need to draw, all the time, from life and from imagination to hone our skills. There are so many subjects, animals, nature, numerous man made stuff and so on for which we seek other teachers, books and references. But these three authors will create a definite impact on the way we go about drawing and will set us on a strong foundation.

Burne Hogarth

Tarzan ! What an epic in the world of sequential art. Taking us all into the deep jungles, full of danger and adventure, the rich visualization was possible thanks to the genius and draughtsmanship of Burne Hogarth. Never before was such vivid details of the jungle, the animals, the daring Tarzan, ever captured so realiztically in this medium. Burne stretches his imagination while wielding his pencil and takes us on a magical journey.

Hogarth gave the secrets of his great talent to those he aspired, by establishing and teaching at the Cartoonists and Illustrators School in New York, later renamed as the School of Visual Arts. His series of books that are perhaps derived from his teaching,are landmarks in art instruction books. Dynamic Anatomy, Drawing the Human Head, Dynamic Figure Drawing, Drawing Dynamic Hands,Dynamic Light and Shade, and Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery.

Perhans the most effective anatomy lessons can be found in these books. Dynamic Anatomy, Drawing the Human head, and Dynamic figure drawing are outstanding and essential for any stundent of art.So much of information is condensed between the covers of these books. One quick look at any picture can be worth hours of reading a text. Truely the adage 'a picture is worth a thousand words' is never more adept than for his illustrations found here.

Book Review : Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History, with Illustrations

Chronicles of the Classics Illustrated

There are numerous attempts at producing illustrated versions of the classic tales from around the world.

The series called "Classics Illustrated" is the definitive attempt at bringing all the great classics to the easy reach of us with beautiful illustrations, in the grand form of sequential art also known as Comics.

It invovled some of the finest artists, and produced a huge collection of stories. These were the results of the dream of Albert Kanter, materialising during the 40s,50s and the 60s, thrilling and educating and entertaining a generation with vivid, simple and beautiful versions of the well known classical tales such as the Three Musketeers, Ivanhoe, The Count of Monte Cristo, Arabian Nights, Robinson Crusoe to name a few.

I remember as a kid, I got hold of a used copy of 'The Salt Mountain' this was part of the Classics Illustrated Junior series, there was something absolutely stunning about it, the story, the pictures, the adventure. it captured the imagination.There was something special about it, which I could not find in any other story book, or series. I wasn't aware what series this was part of, who the publisher was, who the artist was. I was a kid, I simply enjoyed it. not a collector or a history buff. But several years later, when I tried to figure out more about that book, I simply couldn't, until recently the omnipotent WWW helped me learn about this amazing series. I was hooked. I am sure many of us can relate to this, and have a similar tale.

Now to the book.

This is a fantastic chronicle, of the happenings of the Classics Illustrated series, beginning with the beginning, Alber Kanter's dream, it takes us through the publications history of the various stories, and the involvment and influences of the numerous artists invovled in the effort. The evolution of the style and presentation of the books, such as the evolution from comics style to the painted covers etc. are all full of interesting information.

There were several editions, and series... Classics Illustrated, Classics Illustrated Junior, Classics Illustrated Specials, etc and several republishing attemts up until the turn of the century. All of this is detailed in the book with interesting facts.

This book lists all the stories that were published with details about the author, illustrator etc. as much as is available, also the listings from several publishers, and variations.

The book also contains pages and covers from several Classics Illustrated, mostly in black and white. There is a section of about 8 pages in color in special paper.

For the Classics Illustrated collector this sure will be a delight, as it would be to anyone interested in the grandeur of sequential art.

This is an extract from my review at Amazon.com, You can find more of my reviews here.