Customer Reviews

Drawing from Observation

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a teacher of drawing, I have read many books on the subject. This book is the only one I would use as a textbook. I would agree with all the previous reviews but would only comment on the one review from the budding artist who felt the book is confusing and has too much art history for someone who only wants to learn to draw. I come to this book with over two decades of art experience so maybe that is why I find it so interesting, but even if the history is skipped and you read only the practical explanations and do the lessons in the back of the book, you will learn to draw from observation, as this book promises. The book is not meant to be read in two weeks. Learning to draw takes hard work and invested time.

This text is the front-runner in our search for a text to teach visualization drawing for computer graphics students. Its methodology for perceiving and translating form and space into drawing very nicely parallels the principles used in computer modeling. The section on perspective clearly presents principles in such a way as to merge intuitive and analytical understanding. This is a hallmark of the book in general. In addition to practical clarity the text adds historical and theoretical perspectives to round out one's understanding of drawing. I appreciate this because, in the case of our program, it helps us to link the traditions of human visualization from ancient times to the computer age.

Best text, projects, and examples that I have ever seen in a text. A must have for schools and universities (chosen for Drawing 1 and Drawing 2 text).

Teaches you to really look at the object your drawing. Excellent for those who think that they could never draw.

The simplification and clarity of the needed concepts to trascribe from a three dimensional space to a two dimensional plane are clearly eplained in this new book.
It has been a great experience to teach with this new text because the student is able to read the concept before he comes to class and therefore able to better understand the concept at hand.
The progressive format of the book from gesture to clock angles and chiaroscuro are well illustrated and clear.The perspective chapters are to me an addendum to what is done from the start with the square and rectangular forms. The historical aspects that are weaved into the text set the book apart for the student of fine art who is interested and needs this reference. I find that the materials chapter at the start of the book also set up a sequence of answers that are important to the beginning student of fine art. The section on "Drawing Assignments" is of particular interest to those didactic artists who will work on their own as well as the instructor who needs refernces for student exercises.
One suggestion on my behalf is the incorporation of a "CD" to augment the in class lectures and help the student visually.
I have been using this book for one semester and have adopted it for my College. Good work Mr. Curtis

As an art teacher at major universities, I have found that this book gives students the much needed principles that form the basis of an ability to draw from life. Many feel that drawing should be strictly intuitive and therefore no knowledge is needed. This is wrong. Without the ability to put what you see down on paper correctly, it is usually impossible to draw intuitively. This book gives students the needed basics to free up their imaginations to draw intuitively. I would recommend it to all beginning drawing classes.

I really like Drawing from Observation. It's nicely designed and has a ton of great illustrations. The student drawings are awesome and the technical illustrations really make it easy to understand the important stuff about how to draw what we see. Brian Curtis presents perceptual drawing in a way that is easy to understand. I wish this book had been available when I first started learning to draw. Would have saved me a lot of frustration if it had been. And where did he find all that information about the golden mean? Five thumbs up!

I knew from the beginning pages of this text where Curtis emphasizes the importance of developing sensitivity to the quality of the mark on the page, that this book should be in the collection of all student and visual arts professionals. It was exciting to find an intelligent text that is focused, well organized, generously illustrated (over 500 images), and so completely thorough in its presentation of observational drawing techniques and theory. It is packed full with instructive information and additional reference material that sets this book apart from any other drawing text that I have seen.

I recently bought this book at a book store near me to try and teach myself how to draw. I must say I was very disapointed with the text. There is more content in this "drawing" book, it seems, concerning ancient histories and theories than about drawing. If I wanted a history lesson I would buy a book by a qualified historian! Do yourself a favor and buy another book.