Keys to Drawing

I've always envied people who can draw well. I don't necessarily want to draw fantastically, but have wanted to be able to sketch a little better than my three year old. So I bought myself a small tin of pencils and this book (on Kindle).And, it has worked. I'm really quite pleasantly surprised. Instant results. Within a few days of starting, I drew a cork screw. And, it looks like a cork screw! Shading, highlights etc. A couple of weeks later I've drawn pictures of my son, that people could actually recognise it as a drawing of him.The book is pleasantly, conversationally written, and will discuss the the theory quite simply and then ask you to undertake an exercise with instructions. You start of drawing your feet, then hands, 1 minute sketches, then bottles, objects and people. After looking at different styles of sketching employed by different artists, it encourages you to find your own style.It works by outlining the 'keys' to drawing. Little golden snippets, that you build upon as you progress. How to hold the pencil. Draw the outline. Draw enclosed shapes. Measure with pencil. Sight lines etc etc. It's all about how you look at and study things really.Quite simply. If you want to learn to draw, or improve your drawing. This is a great book, and I can fully understand why it's so popular.

I started drawing last year as a challenge to myself of learning a new skill and finding a new hobby.I had been following videos online but didn't feel like they gave me a structured way of learning.This book is brilliant so far. It brings the enjoyment back as the excercises are short and the example drawings don't make you feel inadequate in your own ability. It teaches you some really important techniques from the beginning. One of the critical points early on in the book is that you need to look at the subject you are drawing more than your paper. Also, it teaches you to stop erasing mistakes, but restate instead.You can see yourself improving with this book and it drives you to continue. You feel like the author really wants you to succeed and revel in the magic of drawing. Love the author's note at the back too.

I have recently taken up drawing again but have never really had any formal instruction so have previously felt a bit lost about where to start building up my skills. Some other (older) books that I have read have over-complicated things and implied that only the talented few can become good at drawing - this book is the exact opposite, it uses a principle that anyone can make progress given the right tools, because everyone has the ability to interpret the world around them accurately.The chapters in this book contain a huge amount of useful information that is explained well, and the inclusion of regular practical exercises makes sure that you digest and make sense of the advice given. The exercises are specific in their aims and focus very much on the learning and evaluation process rather than the quality of the final picture - which definitely takes the pressure off! I have tried the first three already and look forward to having a go at the rest.All in all - great book, and something that know I will be using as a reference for years to come.

An excellent book on how to learn to draw, it covers all the relevant points & gives many clues as to how to proceed with your drawing.Only gave it 4 stars because although it is full of drawing examples, none of the drawings were very inspiring but it is one of the best learn to draw books out there with a no nonsense direct approach.

If you could buy only one learn to draw book, buy this one! It will revolutionise how you draw. Having always loved art, I went through 3/4 of my life believing I was crap and that I couldn't draw. This will give you the confidence to realise that like anything, drawing is a skill that needs practising and (b) you shouldn't care what anyone else thinks. And most importantly, anyone can draw, given the right instruction and given confidence. I like how in part of the book, you see student examples of a hand and realise when you have a go, you are up there with them in creating a nice first ever and achievable drawing of your own hand. I really love the idea of learning to draw the outline of things and leaving the mistakes in as part of the process of capturing what you want to draw. Money well spent! I don't care if no one likes my drawings. The point is that I love them and this book gave me the confidence to accept my own work and be happy with my standard.And for the bad reviewers, maybe it's not everyone's style. I love pen and ink and sketchy watercolour paintings. I drew one of these with a stick from the garden. I like to see all my mistakes. It's about progression and learning to sketch before moving on the the bigger stuff.This book teaches you the foundations or keys to drawing. It teaches you how to develop your own style or handwriting.If you want a quick drawing program that teaches you how to copy someone else's style rather than loosening your hand up, creating your own handwriting or just giving you confidence, maybe look else where. The problem with many other books is when you realise you cannot aspire to being as good as the artist that produces them because you just haven't been taught all the skills or these book skip vital drawing skills. Additionally you have to keep practicing. These artists have been doing art for years. This book does not skip those steps! Good luck.

I have been drawing for some years and wanted to buy a book for someone starting to draw from scratch. I found Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain a great help when I started out but it is quite wordy. This is the other book that appears in all the ‘Best Drawing tutor’ lists so I got a copy for both of us so I could work alongside them. I have read it cover to cover and think it is brilliant. It is informative, practical, encouraging, inspiring and accessible. The chapter on composition alone was worth the price of the book to me (I already own a couple of books in this subject) as it is so lucid. A steal at the price.

It was everything I needed. It explains things clearly, and is easy to follow. It has definitely improved my drawing skills.

This book is already helping my drawing and I've only done the first 3 lessons! It is detailed yet easy to follow. I do agree it's more geared toward the adult beginner as I think it might be a bit too much for kids. I couldn't draw worth a darn and every time I tried it looked like a 5 year old did it but I honestly see a big improvement! It has helped with me not being do critical of my work, I pick apart everything when it's not perfect!!

It's very well organised and explains everything in detail; I really recommend this book! The exercises look complicated, but I'm amazed how well I could draw by just following the explained theory :o

Das Buch ist verdammt gut aufgebaut. Ich neige dazu gerne Bücher irgendwo anzufangen und dann woanders weiterzulesen. Das klappt bei dem Buch hier nicht. Ich musste beim lesen regelmäßig stoppen, bis ich mich durchgerungen habe, die Aufgabe zu machen, weil man dafür erstmal Zeit finden muss. Aber genau diesen Aspekt des Ernst nehmen des Buches genieße ich sehr, da ich so die Hinweise und Tipps auch ernstlich umsetzen kann. Ich lerne sehr viel daraus wirklich mal einfach zu befolgen, was gefordert wird.Ich kann das Buch uneingeschränkt empfehlen

I searched the web for "how to draw, for beginners" and this book was on everybody’s top lists, so I bought it. I thought that there was going to be step by step tutorials on how to draw, but its not. I don’t even know what this book is all about. For me as a beginner, it didn’t give me anything at all. Waste of money!"