The Elements of DrawingCan 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. |
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artists beautiful begin better blue boughs branches bridge brush character chiaroscuro clouds colour composition copy curve dark side darker delicate distance Dürer E. T. Cook edge edition effect Elements of Drawing engraving etching express farther foliage gamboge give gradation grey hand harmony illustrations J. M. W. Turner John Ruskin kind landscape Laws of Fésole leaf leaves less light and shade lines look Madame de Genlis masses master merely Modern Painters Nature nearly never object observe outline painting pale paper Paul Veronese pencil perfect perspective photographs picture piece plates Pre-Raphaelite principle Prussian blue purple reflection Rembrandt render round Ruskin seen shadow shape sketch spot square stone stone pine Stones of Venice surface things tint tion Titian touch tower tree Turner water-colour whole woodcut