The Elements of Drawing: Illustrated Editions with Notes by Bernard Dunstan - Softcover

Ruskin, John

3.82

242 ratings by Goodreads

9780713682939: The Elements of Drawing: Illustrated Editions with Notes by Bernard Dunstan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0713682930 ISBN 13: 9780713682939

Publisher: A & C Black Publishers Ltd, 2007

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Ruskin's The Elements of Drawing, first published in 1857, remains one of the most sensible and useful books on how to draw and paint, both for the amateur and the professional artist. Ruskin reduces the art of drawing to its simplest elements - the making of marks, the perception of shapes and silhouettes before going on to more complex exercises and the use of colour. He emphasizes the importance of observation of natural forms, and of graduated study; and much of his method has strong links with recent methods of teaching. Bernard Dunstan, well known internationally both as a painter and an experienced author of practical books on painting has provided an introduction, commentary on the text and drawings and colour exercises to illustrate more fully Ruskin's method and instruction. Where Ruskin refers to the work of other artists such as Durer, Titian and Turner, a reproduction of the work, or a drawing after the original, has been included.

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Review:

'Contains new illustrations and interesting notes and explanations to help students through the process of drawing. This classic retains its relevance some 150 years after its first appearance and should be on every artist's bookshelf.' Leisure Painter (June 2007) 'The book is an absolute delight and proves that traditional teaching methods by a good artist and tutor should never be overlooked in our age of digital technology and instant results.' Editor, Leisure Painter (July 2007)

From the Back Cover:

Can drawing--sound, honest representation of the world as the eye sees it, not tricks with the pencil or a few "effects"--be learned from a book? One of the most gifted draftsmen, who is also one of the greatest art critics and theorists of all time, answers that question with a decided "Yes." He is John Ruskin, the author of this book, a classic in art education as well as a highly effective text for the student and amateur today.
The work is in three parts, cast in the form of letters to a student, successively covering "First Practice," "Sketching from Nature," and "Colour and Composition." Starting with the bare fundamentals (what kind of drawing pen to buy; shading a square evenly), and using the extremely practical method of exercises which the student performs from the very first, Ruskin instructs, advises, guides, counsels, and anticipates problems with sensitivity. The exercises become more difficult, developing greater and greater skills until Ruskin feels his reader is ready for watercolors and finally composition, which he treats in detail as to the laws of principality, repetition, continuity, curvature, radiation, contrast, interchange, consistency, and harmony. All along the way, Ruskin explains, in plain, clear language, the artistic and craftsmanlike reasons behind his practical advice--underlying which, of course, is Ruskin's brilliant philosophy of honest, naturally observed art which has so much affected our aesthetic.
Three full-page plates and 48 woodcuts and diagrams (the latter from drawings by the author) show the student what the text describes. An appendix devotes many pages to the art works which may be studied with profit.
Unabridged republication of the text from the Library edition of The Works of John Ruskin, 1904.

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