Keys to drawing

226 Pages·1990·144.53 MB·English

by  Bert Dodson

BERT DODSON

Rediscover the art of seeing with:
+ 55 specific keys to improving your
drawings
+48 mini-lessons that help 7
you master techniques
+8 self-evaluation
checklists to help you
Sauge your
progress
KEYS TO
DRAWING

KEYS TO
DRAWING

BERT DODSON

Cancnats, Ohio
Acknowledgments

‘ish to express my thanks o all ke artists, studenss, photo-
ers, mostly [ries who b2ve contributec their wors to
2 Tenting or his kind serial a-sstancr; Bill
patient encouragement; Elba Pesclman and
Ipful advice al most ofl tomy ete Bone
seeciting, ping tind counseling

Lig Nel for
for bee exhats

other fine North Light Books ase mvalable from you Leal book
store, art supply store or direc from the publisher

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Ne prt of ts gatlonton
1 moans eae. eo

Man

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Liheany af Congress Catalnging in Publication Data

Diao, Be

ISBN 08313

377

CONTENTS

Introduction 8

1 The Drawing Process ic

dwriting 40

Proportions: Taking the 70
Measure of Things

102
The Mlusion of Depth

Ore apie fo

The Illusion of Texture 148

Pattern and Design 172

Drawing andImagination 198

Bibliography 22
Index 223
INTRODUCTION

“These sce ina eld Western finn which Danny Ko
ts the hero, challesged by a dangerous gunslinger tea
Shootout nthe atest Ashe walks twtr the slaon doce
an oul ito that street, ee meaning len give have
Sirlis best chances of surviving, “The son's inthe west a0
eg him to the easy says onsold timer.” He -tande ap tll
z= equat dovin low aye another, Someone elie advises, "He
Sats fom hi pho enn to Foe leF Kaye desperatly
thes ta remember #2 tip but > Hh tne te reaabes the
binging ors, he is hopelessy confused, and we hear im
shuttering, The mens up tas lenn tothe west he
uals to his let so shoot devon low he's eastof his right
Se thoce at hat ee

Drew apprcoched asa aet of mstrections chat
mus be ememberel cat make us feaet very ruth ike
Buoy Kiyersrthe scene above, No cus Phager esas that
way Sesauee tie dfficult to esp such jumble o rstrucions
Ininind while draering, Simply remeuber thece ae many keys
desing which yon wil i the book Poth see they
tt Shacrbs inte pour ann stem nf drawing, We enoh
bring to bear all gor keovredge st cnce. What we ean co
Concentrate on ovt subject and tris out eyes. Key Wb Dring

aly losing Wr rue ur sven lating tered

Says in rb ue ca rendre tha ruse. Drawing
primarily proces of ing athe’ than ait an sopicetion
Er principles Cher keys ~ suchas rating, souala.
Sowing and wanpng are realy ay-prodacs of aeeine put
ite te eng batt. They ca be eased gedualy,
Sta comforsnble pace

Tr adeition to trastng our eyes, the quality that ost
defines ary of wu assists curity Av ats Lae
Srernly fad a dead dc. Hie onk i back ‘0 8 stag and
Ids cravings of He stalled tne arvargement of wing,
Rnhest to heer understand how te Bird fee
{Her undera low ery. e mace stadies cf the legs and
for noting theioes tion well eco the boy — awkward
ior lingo: precy suited and powrerfa forsee
His swings Delpes hi seston! ducks For thi att
eawing ra rteans of satsfing sete criss 1 ko other
Sitats lo il sunply craw a.cver sabes thee eye
Coshsent that sven aediany objects can mace ee rsrdinary
Eubjects, Such aroste ae intrigued by the interplay of shapes,
Leroi Whsthee yur ciety is clone rvs, oF both,
the mse Eas that vos apsronch the work! with swunder wl
Inipars ta your drawings se nochority ane a beaty ok
her wse btsineble

Tach chapter of Kes to Drawing contains profs
designed 0 give the reader exper ence wilh the unporlant
Keysunder discussion, A woe and onojectsiesaton
Seton toca the cod leach shguee The projets se
rarnowclyfostued, limiting tae number of probleme te be
Solved st any sven time, Some spec ically call for aelovard or
hobo sour oF obec htteradcomposivens, or