Sketch!

Sketch! is one of those books that celebrates the process of making art, when things might not need to be said, if only to motivate the reader to get to work (is that why there’s an exclamation point in the title?). The author relates why drawing is still relevant, and this is indeed a friendly jump-starter for non-artists. Links to relevant websites are provided throughout, for further ideas.

The book is assembled in short paragraphs with a conversational voice. Physically, there is substance and weight to the paper – nice and sturdy; also, the corners are rounded. The colors as well as the greyscale images are easy on the eyes. Her drawings have a cartoon-like look to them, accurate and recognizable, but with some little bit of a twist from reality. This is one of the major differences between a sketch and a photograph. The artwork conveys what she is trying to say better than the text, which maybe could have been a little better edited.

I wasn’t too interested in the specific tools she writes of (I would just use whatever is available), but if I ever become more serious about drawing, those pages will be good for reference. However, there are additional factors to think about, like choosing the kind of paper to work with, though not all terms are defined (ex: tooth?). The use or omission of crosshatching (a kind of shading) came with some helpful tips, and I found it interesting about how something like holding the pen (or other tool) changes at different stages. The biggest message, perhaps, is to just draw more, and as with anything else, you will improve your skills with time.

Note: I received a free copy of this title through BloggingForBooks in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Bonus:

With all this snow in the northeast, I have had a hard time motivating myself to get much done, including reading. I want to try more drawing, and hope to have some featured in my next review. For now, something I had always wanted to do was to depict a subject in Lego form. It is easier to do a 2D mosaic than a 3D ‘sculpture,’ so of course the first thing I had to make was a brook trout. I based mine on the cover of the Spring 1969 L.L. Bean catalogue. I had some bricks left over, and made this robin, based on a picture I took. Any suggestions for future renderings?