Draw better

Dominique Audette

Brynmorgen Press

We recently traveled to visit our family in California. As I thought back on this delightful trip, I contemplated the many sites we had visited and highways and streets over which we had traveled. Geometric shapes surrounded us. The beautiful buildings and homes on their small and large rectangular lots, the lovely cylindrical swaying palm trees, the profusion of squared off green electrical power boxes, all assailed our visual senses.

This book, "Draw Better" presents the readers with a simple text and a multitude of illustrations to aid the student in a wonderful practical drawing experience. Well presented lessons demonstrate the concepts of geometric solids, perspective, and shading.

Author points out that any reproducible object can be reduced to its basic shape. Various examples of this are illustrated such as a light bulb, cup, earthenware pot, spinning top, watering can, and lamp. He then goes on to illustrate more advanced shapes by utilizing the same concept which might require the addition of more shapes to complete.

The section on single drawings showing several views of an object is very well defined. The author then directs the student to a series of exercises that illustrate the concepts of perspective, light, and shadow which helps give an object volume.

Part 2 demonstrates how "simple geometric volumes can be transferred into everyday objects." The book concludes with Part 3 which is a wonderful definition on combinations of forms to create a realistic image. We are also introduced to "Special Cases" which offer a visual representation of shapes to be manipulated by slicing, bending, stretching, etc.

I highly recommend "Draw Better." I agree that this book is for visual learners. My eleven year old grandson has excellent drawing skills. He truly "sees."