Click Here To Purchase From Amazon The Drawing Breakthrough Book: A Shortcut to Artistic Excellence

Author: John Hastings

ISBN: 9780974941820

Publisher: Draw 3 Lines Publishing

I have always been envious of people who are able to draw and paint, particularly that some members of my own family are prolific artists.

Unfortunately, none of their creativity has rubbed off on me. No matter how many times I have attempted to draw, my artwork ends up as a disaster! Probably I should be classified as hopeless and stick to my writing.

When artist John Hastings approached me to review his book The Drawing Breakthrough Book: A Shortcut to Artistic Excellence, I once again asked myself if I should give it another shot. Perhaps he can miraculously teach me how to draw!  

According to the book’s introduction, Hasting was quite frustrated in the drawing lessons he was taking. Consequently, he decided that there must be an easier route to learn this skill. The result is a quick, simple and most logical way to learn how to draw which Hasting developed over a nine-year period through research and experimentation with the help of professional artists, art teachers, and art students.

Part One of the book concentrates on showing you how to make drawings with lines more manageable. It is in this section where we appreciate how lines and shapes are magical. For example, if you look at your hands with your fingers spread about, you immediately notice several shapes. As you become more visually alert and are able to see and understand shapes, you are now able to look for basic shapes and forms-and their variations-within objects.

With this in mind, Hastings shows you how to convert three dimensional forms into flat (not “flat looking”) two-dimensional shapes.  You are also shown how to create points of reference or to place lines and shapes more accurately. It is here where we are taught to use our sense of balance as you go about creating points of reference. As pointed out, a simple shape of a dot or a line can be a point of reference. It is also in this section where we learn how to measure angles and how to work with guidelines which are vital in the drawing process. The section ends with building a drawing from the ground up.

Part Two concentrates on mastering and building confidence in drawing straight, circular and elliptic lines. In other words, helping you draw what you see. Also included in the section is a mini workshop where you are shown these special lines and how to draw with them. As an example of what we learn, we are shown how straight lines are continuous and without curves. This is illustrated with an imaginary clear drinking glass with an even rim across its top so that you see a straight line. We are next instructed to match the top of the glass with the straight line that we wish to draw. If the straight line is shorter, the glass will be smaller. If on the other hand the straight line is longer, the glass is larger. We can also visualize the glass from the side or just the rim of the glass and as long as we can see the rim, we will be able to more effectively observe, visualize and draw straight lines. Next on the agenda is drawing squares and here we are shown special ways to draw and evaluate them. The remaining sections of Part Two concentrate on circular and elliptic lines followed by exercises.

The concluding Part Three section focuses on expanding your drawing skills. We are taught to see with an eye for artistic composition and to view all lines as variations of the building-block lines. According to the introduction to this chapter, “Composing a drawing involves arranging lines and shapes to take viewers on a visual journey.”  In order to understand composition we have to be able to analyze several kinds. Hastings explains the Rule of Thirds where we mentally divide our pictures into thirds, vertically and horizontally. We then place important parts of our subject near these lines, especially where they intersect. If we follow the Rule of Thirds we will be able to create better compositions. Other topics dealt with in this part are line direction, line complexity, line rhythm, implied lines, overlapping and cropping, shape rhythm, implied shapes and dominant shapes. Part Three ends with beyond the building-block lines.

What is the verdict? Did I learn how to draw? I have to admit that I did learn how to observe and visualize more effectively. And yes I was successful in drawing something resembling a dog and a cat. Who knows, perhaps with practice and patience I will someday compete with my artist wife and daughter. 

Overall, this is an excellent book and simple techniques are clearly described with comprehensible illustrations and exercises. Hasting’s approach is logical, extremely obvious and demystifying, something that is lacking in many books of a similar nature.

 The above review was contributed by: NORM GOLDMAN:  Norm is a Retired Title Attorney and now is the Editor & Publisher of Bookpleasures. Here are  Norm Goldman's Reviews       

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