The Bottom Line
- covers important and difficult details with astute observations
- extensively illustrated with clear, accurate drawings
- aproaches three-dimensional structure, rather than flat formulaic drawing
- title should reflect focus on American wildlife
- use of color would have been nice
Description
- Title: Drawing Wildlife
- Author: J. C. Amberlyn
- Publisher: Watson-Guptill
- ISBN: 0-8230-2379-6
- Size: 8.5 x 10.5 in, 160 pages
Guide Review - Drawing Wildlife - Book Review
The chapter on each animal family includes an overview of key points. Simple sketches show how to draw the basic shapes of the animal. The animal's movement is explained using sequences of line drawings, as well as any 'typical' poses, such as a cat leaping. Body and head structures are sketched and details of eyes, noses, and features such as tails are illustrated.
Amberlyn takes a methodical closer look at members of each animal family - for example, the Black Bear, Brown Bear and Polar Bear. The skull anatomy is drawn in detail, and identifying features such as head shape and expression, markings and differences in body shape are indicated. Difficult parts of an animal - such as a deer's antlers - are thoroughly explained. Through the book are many step-by-steps, which take the reader through a full drawing of various animals.
One of the problems (which of course, becomes one of the pleasures) of drawing animals is the unique structure of every creature. 'Getting the legs right' can be difficult, especially if you don't know how the animal's joints are structured and the reference photo is blurry! 'Drawing Wildlife' solves this problem, acting as a useful reference source.
