*Current copy has no dust jacket
From the dust jacket:
Everyone wishes that he could faithfully reproduce the world around him–wishes that he could draw what he sees. Here is a book that teaches you how.
Rudy de Reyna believes that there are only four basic shapes in nature–the cube, the cylinder, the cone, and the sphere. Every object is based on one of these geometric shapes, although the shape itself may be greatly modified. Once you can see the basic shape of an object, you can draw that object no matter how much detail it may contain.
The author devotes Part One of his book to the fundamentals of drawing. In clear, concise, and lavishly illustrated projects–which the reader is encouraged to try out for himself–de Reyna presents the basic structure of objects, eye level, perspective, and putting basic forms together. The projects in Part One are arranged so that each one is slightly more complex than the one before, and deal with such drawing principles as the horizon plane, light and shade, translating local color to black and white, drawing with charcoal, drawing a still life, drawing outdoors, drawing the figure, and drawing children.
In Part Two, the author explains the use of media not usually described in a book on drawing. The reader learns how to "draw" in painting media like wash (transparent watercolor), opaque watercolor, and acrylic, which are used here only in their black and white forms. De Reyna discusses each medium–wash, opaque, and acrylic–separately and carefully details the materials needed for working in each one. He presents the basic techniques of each medium and provides exercises to help the student gain proficiency in handling them. Then, in detailed step-by-step demonstrations the author renders still lifes, landscapes, and portraits in each medium, putting into practice all the techniques that he has described.
The author also explains the use of ink for rendering landscapes. He shows how interesting effects can be created by using several different media in one drawing. And de Reyna stresses the importance of choosing the most suitable medium.
Throughout the projects, de Reyna shares with the reader his many interesting experiences as an artist and teacher. The author's illustrations appear on virtually every page.
176 pages. 7 x 10. Over 200 black and white illustrations.
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