The Bottom Line
'Everyone Should Draw' explains the concepts of 'seeing' fairly concisely, and covers the basics of beginning a drawing, using structure, and adding shading. The computer-graphic illustrations of light and shadow are particularly helpful, but the perspective drawing section is somewhat limited. Overall a worthwhile book, though it probably wouldn't be my first choice.
Pros
- covers all the basics
- breaks information into easily readable chunks
- well illustrated
Cons
- too much digital illustration
- focuses on shaded drawing - no exploration of line
Description
- ISBN 1598632566, Course Technology
- 9.1 x 7.5 inches, 224 Pages, Paperback
- Covers important key concepts including:
- materials, types of paper and basic techniques, such as pencil grip and shading
- seeing and perception and the fall of light and shadow on objects and surfaces
- composition, proportion and dynamics of a picture
- linear and atmospheric perspective drawing
- portraiture, including proportion and features, shading
Guide Review - Drawing Book: Everyone Should Draw
'Everyone Should Draw' covers the basics of drawing, from the important aspects of 'seeing' and identifying pattern, shape, composition, light and shade, through to step-by-step examples that take you through drawing various subjects. There are a few areas which I feel could be covered in more depth and breadth, such as perspective and negative space, but the section on portrait drawing has some very useful key points. Most beginners should find the book useful. One reservation I have about, however, is that the drawings overall tend to be rather weak - they are lightweight sketches, lacking depth in the dark values. This is particularly evident in the drawing of an African-American man, who looks white in the drawing. However, this is only a minor point, and there is plenty of useful material to help the beginner develop their basic drawing skills.
